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LADY GODIVA 



A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS 



BY 



OSEPH I. C. CLARKE 



CoPYRi(iHT, 1902, BY Joseph I. C. Clarke 



Licensed by the Lord Chamberlain and publicly performed in 
London, April, 1902. 



The acting and publishers' rights of this play are strictly re- 
served in the United States and in Great Britam and Ire- 
land, and all British colonies and dependencies, and 
in all places and countries covered by United 
States and English copyrights. 



New York 


London 


SAxMUEL FRENCH 


SAMUEL FRENCH. Ltd 


PUULISHER 


PUBLISHERS 


26 WEST 22D STREET 


89 STRAND 




iPv!v 



GO IN u .-, Lo o , 
Two CopiEa Received 

ri^AY. 29 1902 

COPYPIflHT ENTRY 

CUASS ^ XXc. No 
COPY B. 



\ 



C 



THE CHARACTERS. 



Leofric Eorl of Chester 

Bertulf Thegn of Leicester 

Siegfred Bertulf's steward 

Hundibert Saxon etheling 

Cuthwolf Saxon soldier of Bertulf's huscarles 

Edric Duke of Mercia 

■Oswald Danish captain in Edric's service 

Ragnal Danish soldier in Edric's service 

Gurth A swineherd, a thrall of Bertulf's 

^Grimbald A mason, a freeman of Bertulf's 

Rusty Runnion The gleeman 

Tomas Ap-Toinas A Welsh harper 

Dunstan A Saxon hermit monk 

Canute King of Denmark, Norway and England 

Jarl Tlwrold Captain of Canute's fleet 

Wilfred A Messenger of Edric's 

Ingulf The dumb headsman of Edric 

Alfred The child of Grimbald and Eadburga 

Lady Godiva Daughter of Bertulf 

Lady Wynfreda 

Ede'lgitha Abbess of St. Michael 

Sister Angeline A nun 

Adelene Lady Godiva's tiring woman 

Jillen, goose-girl. ) ^^^ ^ g If 

Eadburga, zvife of Grimbald. ... ) 

■Saxon liusearles, DanisJi guards, Saxon nobles, Saxon 

peasant girls, nuns of St. Michael, tonnismen and 

tozvnszvomen of Coventry. 

TIME. 1016 A.D SCENE, ENGLAND. 



SYNOPSIS OF SCENERY. 
Act L — Courtyard quadrangle of Thegn Bertulf's Manor. 
Act IL— On Bardon Hill. 

Act in. — Scene i : Chapter room of the convent of St. 
Michael,' the Archangel. 
Scene 2 : The market square of Coventry. 
.Act IV.— Hall of Edric's Castle. 



LADY GODIVA. 



rC 



ACT I. 



\ jV^ ScENE.-^Tlie Courtyard quadrangle of Bertulf's manor. 

\ ^ In L. corner a low, arched gate of entrance. At c. back 

n: wide entrance to the Hall up a step or tzvo. At r. u. e. 

' , entrance to Godiva's bozver coming down a short flight 

^Tl^Li of stone steps; vines trained over lattice at top of steps. 

? o"^ The steps come down facing audience. At r. 2 another 

S ^ arched passage leading to inner courtyard. A door in 
wall at L. 3. A large oak tree (whose branches do not 
obscure the entrance arch) not far from the zvall l. Be- 
neath tree a rough table and some rough benches. 
Architecture of the latter Saxon period in England. 

Discovered. — Cuthwolf and a group of Saxon soldiers 
under the tree resting sullenly on their spears. Ragnal 
and three other Danish soldiers grouped together 
closely R. of the steps to the Hall door. The groups arc 
eyeing each other. Shouts of girlish laughter off r. and 
Jillen and a crozvd of girls come romping on zvith 
Uozvers and garlands (such Uozvers as hollyhocks, honey- 
suckle, clematis) and some, among them Jillen, carry- 
ing flagons of ale and drinking horns. They stand an 
instant laughing at c. and zvaving their Howers. 

Cuthwolf. What, May Day in September! (the girls 
laugh and come running forzvard) 

Jillen. It's Lady Godiva's birthday and we've come to 
give her greeting. 

Cuthwolf. Our lady's with the Abbess in her bower. 

Jillen. We know that. Cuthwolf; we've come, too, foi 
the Abbess's blessing: she's back from her holy pil- 
lagrimage to Rome. 

Cuthwolf. You need the blessing, goose-girl, and we 
need the ale. (The girls laughing fill for the Saxons. 
Jillen. fills for Cuthwolf) Now, Jillen, a kiss. 

Jillen. Don't let Gurth. the 'swineherd, see you ; he's 
my sweetheart. 

Cuthwolf. Why not ? 

Jillen. Because he cuffs me when the men that kiss me 
are gone. (Enter Gurth r.) 



4 LADY GODIVA. 

CuTHWOLF. I'll kiss you anyway, (kissing her. GuRTH 
slwzvs anger) Here's to Saxon girls and Saxon ale ! 

The Saxons. Good Hail. 

JiLLEN. Here's to the men that drink the Saxon ale! 
(They all laugh) Oh, Gurth ! (frightened: he catches 
her and draivs her hack) 

Gurth. Will you ever do it again? 

JiLLEN. No; I swear, Gurth. (swinging her round he 
sees the Danes) 

Gurth. Danes ! 

The Girls (anxiously looking round) Danes! 

Gurth. (going to Cuthwolf) What are they doing 
here? 

Cuthwolf. Their captain is in the Hall with our lord, 
Bertulf. They belong to the Duke Edric's body-guard. 

Gurth. His men are burning and plundering through 
Leicester now. 

Cuthwolf. Now? m time of peace? 

Gurth. This very day I saw the smoke of farmsteads 
from the hills. 

JiLLEN. I'll offer them a horn of ale so they won't plun- 
der us. 

Cuthwolf. It's their master, the traitor lord, who 
burns and robs; not they, {to the Danes) Come. North- 
men, you're within our gates; drink with us. (The Danes 
come forivard and the girls pour for them) 

JiLLEN. [pouring for Ragnal) You're a big bonny man 
for all you're a Dane. 

Ragnal. Eh? Then I'll drink to you. 

JiLLEN. You may, but you mustn't kiss me ; Gurth 
there wouldn't like it. (she laughs, looking temptingly up 
at Ragnal) 

Gurth. There ! Asking a Dane to kiss her. 

Cuthwolf. She's a jade. 

Gurth. No ; it's her innocence ; she don't know one 
man from another. Look! (Ragnal puts his arm around 
Jillen and kisses her. All laugh except Gurth and 
Cuthwolf) 

Ragnal (tauntingly) Here's to Canute, our Danish 
King. 

The Other Danes. Skoal ! Skoal ! 

Cuthwolf. (angrily) Here's to Edmund Ironsides, 
our Saxon king. 

The Other Saxons. Hail! Hail! 
Ragnal. Edmund's not the king in Mercia here. 
Cuthwolf. One blast from Edmund in London, and 
we'd answer it here. 



LADY GODIVA. 5 

Ragnal. That's all fought out. A year ago they split 
The land between them. Your Edmund is let 
Rule the South; Canute the North. We smashed you 
In the field, we Danes. 

CuTHwoLF. With help of traitor Saxons. 

Ragnal. Lord Edric has sharp ears and sharper steel. 

CuTHwoLF. You've named him. It was he who marched 
the Mercians 
From the field and brought defeat to England. 

Ragnal. Well, leave the kings. Try who's the better man. 
I'm Ragnal, the Dane. 

CuTHwoLF. Fm Cuthwolf. the Saxon. 

Ragnal. Sword, spear or quarter-staff? 

JiLLEN. Oh, quarter-staff. 

Such rare knocks and no blood, {they are given quar- 
ter-staffs) 

CuTHwoLF. Come on. 

{An instant of turmoil, and staff play. Enter Bertulf from 
Hall, follozvcd by Oswald and Siegfred) 

Bertulf. Cease there ! {the men stop) Freeman or thrall 
of mine, he dies 
Who stirs up war twixt Dane and Saxon. 
Go to your Hall. {The Saxon men move off, crest- 
fallen) You, Cuthwolf. stay. 
Oswald, {to his men) In line! {the Danes 

take line) 
March! {They march up to the gate at back) 
(Oswald goes up to Bertulf) 
Oswald. Can you not send Duke Edric. lord, more 
fav'ring 
Promise? 
Bertulf. The honor seems too great, good Oswald, 

For the daughter of a simple thegn. I'll wait 
His coming. Fare you well. 
Oswald. He will be here 

Before the day is out. Farewell. 

{Exit 7vith soldiers) 

Bertulf. (to Cuthwolf) What mad 

Swashbucklering was this? Have we not had 
Our fill of fight ? 

Cuthwolf. Another war is in 

The wind. 

Bertulf. What prattle! 

Cuthwolf. Lord, through Mercia men 

Who fought the Danes before, find fiery arrows 
At their doors, sure sign of war not far away. 



6 LADY GODIVA. 

Bertulf. I'll not believe it. To your hall, begone ! 

(CuTHwoLF and the men X and exit crestfallen e.) 

SiEGFRED. You Said embassy, my lord. From Edric? 
Bertulf. That stirs me more than these mere soldier 
brawls. 

What think you ? Edric comes here questing for 

My daughter's hand. I do not well know how 

To take it. My fair Godiva is so young. 

And made of all the fresh blown essences of Spring, 

While he's mature of age and crafty, greedy. 

Cruel. I know him well. 
SiEGFRED. My lord it is 

An honor not to be lightly flicked away. 
Bertulf. Or danger not for me to trifle with. 

His name stands cursed on every Saxon tongue. 

A harder tyrant than the Dane he serves. 
SiEGFRED. A heaven-sent wife might soften him, my lord. 
Bertulf. God wot, it's hard to yield to such a man, 

The sunbeam shifting from the Holy Grail. 

That came to cheer my loneliness. I have 

No son. He died at Assundun for England. 

My heart's old iron must be iron still. 

{Is going up stage disturbed in mind ivhen Enter Hock of 
chattering, laughing girls, then Ap-Tomas, the white- 
bearded harper, and Rusty Runnion, the gleeman, 
then more girls) 

Jillen. The Harper and the Gleeman ! Come along and 
sing. 

Rusty Runnion. Ho, my beauties, we'll sing you a 
song, play you a tune, caper a dance that will set you 
twirling. We're on our way to Michelmas fair at Coventry, 
but here we stop to catch our breath. What shall it be? 

Jillen. It must be no brawling song, for our Lady 
Godiva might near you (thinks) And it must be no lewd 
song for the Holy Abbess Edelgitha is with our young 
mistress. 

Rusty Runnion. Brawl? Lewd? Goose-girl, my 
mouth is full of mother's milk ; we sing vespers every day, 
my friend Ap-Tomas and I. Rusty Runnion, the gleeman. 
(girls all laugh) 

Bertulf. Bid the Lady Godiva come to me ; then set 
a watch for Edric's coming. Go ! 

(SiEGFRED xs slozi'ly to stcps to bozvcr. Ap-Tomas, seating 
himself by the tree facing the bower, plays a light 
prelude on the harp. Rusty Runnion about c, the 
girls grouped around him. 



LADY GODIVA. T 

RuNNiON. He plays what he pleases. The song that is 
stealing out on tiptoe from his ancient head-piece is the 
Charming of Merlin. 
JiLLEN. Oh, Merlin ! Merlin ! 
Girls. Merlin ! 
RuNNiON. (singing) Oh, oh, the song of the woodland' 

bird. 
Girls. Melody! Melody! Melody! 
RuNNiON. (singing) Such dainty singing never was 

heard. 
Girls. Psalmody, psalmody, psalmody. 
RuNNiON. Blackbird, linnet and lark and thrush 
All turn and wait in an eerie hush 
At the voice of the bird a singing. 
Girls, {dancing in a ring) On a bright May morning, 
cool and airy. 
Merlin mocked at sprite and fairy. 
But twitter and twitter, the song went on, 
Charming and thrilling till day was gone. 
Oh ho, Oh ho ! Oh ho ! 

(During the speech of Runnion and the opening bars of 
the song, Siegfred is slozvly mounting the steps. He 
turns and looks at Bertulf as if he were in doubt. 
Bertulf makes an imperious gesture to proceed and 
continues ga::ing fixedly at the door. Siegfred opens 
the door of the bower as the girls start on the chorus 
and Enter Godiva from the bozver full of sudden de- 
light and glad laughter. Siegfred descends) 

Bertulf. (tenderly) Godiva! 

(Standing at the top of the steps, she kisses her hands to 
the dancing girls and leans forzcard on the stone balus- 
trade) 

Jillen. (seeing her) Look! Our Lady Godiva. 

(The girls stop singing and rush tozvards the bozver step's.- 
The harper keeps on playing. 

Godiva. (turning back to the door) Oh, mother, mother, 
come to see them dance. 
(to the girls) Dance that old dance again and sing 
with all your hearts ! 

(Siegfred Xs to Bertl^lf. The girls run back laughing 
to c. of stage and begin dancing in a ring with Run- 
nion, sing the chorus of the song zvhich dies dozvn 
piano as they see the aged nun and then stops and they- 
stand still. Runnion retiring back of harper and. 
stretching at his feet, tired) 



8 LADY GODIVA. 

GoDiVA. (As enter the Abbess Edelgitha, a tall old nun 
with thin face, rather feeble, Godiva assists her) 

They've come to get your blessing, mother dear. 
But well I know you loved to see girls light 
Of heart, if but their souls were pure. 

(Adelene^ Godiva'.s tiring zvoman, comes out on steps) 
Abbess. (As Godiva helps her down the steps.) Ah, well 

You knew my love for lightsome hearts, and played 

Upon it, little sunbeam of the cloister. 
Godiva. (archlv.) I was very, very wicked, was I not? 

(seeing Bertulf) Oh, father ! 
SiEGFRED. (to Bertulf) Why not have Edelgitha 

Break the news? 
Bertulf. (to Siegfred) No, no, I trust no nun with that. 

They ever hold the convent door ajar. 

(The Abbess raises her hand and the girls kneel, Godiva 

kneeling at her feet) 
Abbess. Children of fair England, if you blessing ask 
I pray it on you. Rome, and the glory of 
The saints I've seen. Before their glowing altars 
I have knelt. So pray for me that I may gain 
The heaven I've caught some glimpse of on my way. 
Go now in peace, and peace be with you. 
{The girls rise and pass off. Abbess and Godiva, zvho 
rises, making picture at c, the Abbess zvatching them, 
Godiva looking lovingly at her) 
Godiva. 'Tis a sweet wish. 

Abbess. My child, I'll not again 

Go up the stair, but leave you now — Farewell 
And blessing, child; (to Bertulf) farewell, and 
thanks, good thegn ! 
Bertulf. (bowing his head) Farewell, good mother, (to 
Godiva.) As soon as may be. 
Daughter, I've a word for you. (goes up and exits to 
Hall. Siegfred goes out gate) 
'Godiva. (to Abbess.) I know what 'tis. 

He often tells me he would build an abbey 
To my martyred brother Edward's memory. 
Abbess, (astonished.) An Abbey? That were a Prince's 

offering. 
Godiva. (confidentially.) He has great store of hidden 
gold since he. 
When young and lusty, spoiled at sea along 
The Moslem Coast, (checking herself) I must not 
speak of that, (suddenly.) Oh, mother, I'd for- 
gotten. I've a gift 
For you. (calling) Ho, Adelene ! the coffer, quick. 



LADY GODIVA. ^ 

Abbess. A gift for me? You are God's gift, Godiva. 
(Adelene comes quickly dozen, bearing coffer) 

Godiva. (taking coffer eagerly and putting it on the 
ground and opening if, drazvs out a long airy 
fabric, ivhose folds she throws into the air like a 
sudden Ueece cloud. The harper plays softly) 
Look now how white and light and fair it is. 
I've woven it of the young lamb's wool, as soft 
And white as mists that rise on Summer morns 
From Avonmere. And, oh ! what dreams are in 
The web of it. (kissing it.) They should be pray'rs, 

but girls 
Will drift from pray'rs to dreams, and so with mine. 
I'll tell you, mother, may I not? When went 
Our Saxon fighting men, two years ago. 
To meet the Danes at Assundun. there rode 
Beside my brother a young lord, and as 
They passed the convent, glitt'ring and jingling, he 
Looked up. I know not if he saw me; but 
His face was like a young archangel's; and when 
To rob the hours of weariness, I wove. 
His face was ever shaping from the thread ; ^ 
None but myself could see it, and my pray'rs 
Were more for him than father, brother or 
Myself. I thought mayhap you'd let it lie 
Upon the Virgin's altar, like a pray'r 
That vet was half a young girl's happy dream. 
Abbess. Upon the altar it shall lie, my child. 

A web of pray'rs and dreams, and you shall have 
My prayer for your dream of happy love. 
Godiva. Dear mother ! 

Abbess. Yet. as I'm very old. and near 

My dreamless sleep, it shall be with me when 
I'm called away. 
Godiva. (fearfully) Mother! 
Abbess, (with zealot fervor) Yes, it shall be 

My winding sheet, thrice blessed. 
Godiva. Not that, not that. 

It frightens me. 

(Adelene replaces the web in the coffer) 

Abbess. Blindly we weave our web. 

You saw no bony hand beside yours at 
The loom. You cannot see the storm behind 
This day of calm. Yea, when the Magdalen 
Broke costly ointment on our dear Lord's feet 
Was't not for his burial? (pointing to the coffer) A 
winding sheet ! 



10 LADY GODIVA. 

(Exit slowly, preceded by Adelene bearing the coffer) 

GoDiVA. (terrified) Does it mean 

That he shall die ? A winding sheet ! Ah, me ! 
That I have wrought his weird into the web : 
It chills me to the marrow thinking that. 

(Stands thinking. Enter Bertulf from the Hall, stands 
looking at her) 

No ; 'tis for the aged nun ; 'tis not for him. 

(Bertulf coming to her, she starts and turns) 

Father, the Abbess said my web should be 

Her winding sheet. 
Bertulf. So let it be. The old 

Say things like that, death looms before them so. 

I've other thoughts for vou. No black-draped altar, 

With nuns a-praying for their dead, but one 

Ablaze with light and flowers, the great church filled 

With joyous song. 
GoDivA. {smiling and ivondcring) Father, father, what 
is't? 

You love me, and would startle me to joy. 
Bertulf. A lord comes questing for your hand. 
GoDiVA. (laying her hand on his arm as in sudden hope) 

A lord! 
Bertulf. Yes. a great lord. Godiva. 
GoDiVA. A great lord! 

And young fair glory in his face and soul? 

Such a one as ... . 
Bertulf. 'Tis the Lord Edric, Duke of Mercia. 
GoDiVA. (horror-stricken.) Edric? Edric, the traitor 

lord? 
Bertulf. He is great in the kingdom; stands beside 

Canute. 
GoDiVA. He is the last in England, crawls 

With the snake. No, father, no. One lives 

In love. One suffers for the heart, the cause 

One loves; but thus to live in loathing? No, 

Father, for shame ! 
Bertulf. That which Duke Edric asks 

Comes quick to hand or dread disaster follows. 
Godiva. What worse disaster than himself? I have 

Not seen his face, but well I know it shows 

The horror of the soul within. 
Bertulf. Go garb 

Yourself to greet him, and be wise and gracious, 

As becomes the gentle born. One moment 

From another he'll be here. 



LADY GODIVA. 11 

GoDivA. No, as I am. 

I am well-garbecl enough to say him na)'. 

(Bertulf makes a gesture of despair. Is about to address 
her again, ivhen he catches sight of Siegfred entering 
hastily) 

Siegfred. My lord, a band of horsemen spurring for 

The southern gate. 
Bertulf. Go greet them. If 'tis Edric — 

Soft — I'll go with you. (Exit Siegfred, r. To God- 
IVA.) Do not anger him! 

He scatters death around him where he's thwarted. 

{Exit r.) 

GoDiVA. A winding sheet ! A winding sheet for me ! 

{Crosses to bozver and ascends the steps, halts at top, 
knitting her brows. A horn blown off r. Cries of 
Hail. Hail. Hail. She starts and exits, making a 
gesture of loathing) 

RuNNiON. {rousing and rising.) Marry, but I've slept. 
Come, Ap-Tomas, the horns are sounding and I'll go hunt- 
ing — hunting food. 

Ap-Tomas. I'll go with you. 

RuNNiON. No ; no. Your white beard's good for 
angling pity from young ladies, but for merry thralls and 
fat old cooks, I am the hunter. Get in there, Ap-Tomas,. 
by the door, and play to keep yourself awake. 

{The Harper exits, shaking his head, by door l., xing r. 
singing, "H's ho for the life of the lordless man." A 
glad shout and cheer heard off r.) Runnion stops 
singing suddenly and tiptoes up stage. 

(Enter Bertulf zcith Cuthwolf) 

Bertulf. (troubled) Leofric, eorl of Chester? 
Cuthwolf. (delighted) Thegn, I know 

Him well. He was with Edward when he died 

At Assundun. 
Bertulf. With Edward, (goes l.) 

Cuthwolf. See, he comes. 

(Enter Leofric zvith a guard of four Saxons, all very 
bright and picturesque with glint of steel. The guards 
stand by the arch. Leofric advances to Bertulf. 
Siegfred enters r.) 

Leofric. To Edward's father, Bertulf, thegn of Leices- 
ter, 
I bring greeting. 



12 LADY GODIVA. 

Bertulf. To you, Leofric, welcome, (giz'ing his 

hand. Runnion steals off r.) 
Leofric. I bear a message and a dear reminder 

Of the bravest heart that ever died for 

England. 
Bertulf. Edward, my Edward ! Forgive me 

If my eyes are wet. 

{Goes L. to the tree still Jioldiiig Leofric's Jiand) 

I did not think to hear 
The tale you bring, {to Siegfred.) Send my daughter 
to us. (Siegfred goes to foot of bozver steps, and 
raises J) is hand; tlien xs and goes out by the gate 
at back) 
Leofric. To speak to her will be the hardest task, {stand- 
ing facing L.) 

(GoDivA appears at bower coming dozvn steps, her eyes on 
the ground, her head lield high, her hands clenched. 
CuTHWOLF and the soldiers exeunt r. at signal from 

Bertulf) 
Bertulf. {xing to her as she advances.) Godiva, this 
good lord brings memories 

Of one we loved. 
GoDiVA. {low to Bertulf.) Father, how can you bring 

This utter shame to me? 
Bertulf. {low to her) Sorrow, mayhap. 

Not shame, (to Leofric.) My daughter, lord! 

(Leofric turns and looks pityingly at Godiva) 

GoDiVA. {in sudden joy) Oh, father, father! 

You're surely not Lord Edric, sir? 
Leofric. No, lady: 

I am Leofric, and a Saxon true. 
Godiva. And you rode forth from Coventry to fight 

For Saxon England ? 
Leofric. We rode through Coventry 

As we went out to meet the Dane. 
GoDiVA. And you 

Looked up as you went past St. Michael's gate? 
Leofric. Most likely, {as recalli>ig) I remember Edward 
said, 

I have a sister somewhere by that window. 

I noted that the boyish tears so dimmed 

His eyes, he could not see for sure; 1)ut all 

I knew was one glad sea of waving wimples. 

Smiling faces and loud cries of "Hail, all hail!" 



LADY GODIVA. 13 

GoDiVA. Oh, and amid the Market square your horse 
Reared up. but you sat like a man of bronze, 
And presently you spurred forth till behind 
The hill you sank from view. 

Leofric. He said to me 

I^ would that you had seen my sister, such 
Frank faith and girlish joy light up her eyes. 

(GoDiVA murmurs delighted) 

He was a brother and pur blind, so gave 
No hint at all of what 1 here behold. 

(she gazes on his face in a iconder of recognition) 

GoDiVA. To think I should remember you so well ! 
Just that one upward glance of yours, my lord 
And I could not forget you. 

Bertulf. (w/zo has listened anxiously) Come within. 
My lord ; I'd hear of Edward, my lost boy. 
For whom my heart shall ever lie in ashes. 

GoDivA. Nay. father, 'neath this oak that Edward loved. 
{to Leofric) - Sit here, {seating him on bench round 

tree) 
And father here, (seating Bertulf on seat near tree 

R. c.) 
And let me thus, {seating herself at Bertulf's feet) 
Listen as the day wears on, and wish 'twould 
Last forever. 

Leofric. Nay, lady, do not ask 

Unsealing of that day when Saxon England 
Fell as dead. At morn a splendid host ! at noon 
A remnant hard beset; at night a horror 
Of blood and flight — and thirty thousand Saxons 
Gashed and dead. 

GoDiVA. And Edward? 

Leofric. Amid the thunder 

Of the last mad charge beside the king he fell, 
A spear wound in his breast. As soon as I 
Could raise his head, he smiled, tugged hard at this 

{draining forth small golden reliquary) 

And died. I knew he wished you'd have it, so severed 

With my sword the cord. 
GoDiVA. Oh, father, Edward's blood 

Is on it. 
Bertulf. I cannot look on it ; it tears 

My heart asunder. 
GoDiVA. (kissing it.) His blood! 



14 LADY GODIVA. 

Leofric. Not his alone. 

The Dane's as well, who slew him, whom I slew. 
Between their two corpses, on that reliquary, 
I swore me then to England's cause until 
I die. 

Bertulf. Oh, old, old and broken ! 

•GoDiVA. (going closer to Leofric ivitlwut rising.) You 
drew 
It from his breast? One Easter morn I gave 
It him, blessed by the Abbess Edelgitha. 
And in your hand 'twas clasped when that you swore? 
And ever since thus near 3'our heart? Father, 
You hear ! 

Leofric. Ay, ever since, and in my heart 

The same resolve, to rid our England of 
The Dane, as at Clontarf the Irish smote them 
Two years gone. 

Bertulf. There's too much hate and jealousy 

Among our nobles to unite for war. 

Leofric. Two hundred years of blood have worn a chasm 
Between the Dane and Saxon. Never, in all 
That time, a year when Englishmen might look 
In peace across the Northern sea, lest ev'ry 
Far-off flock of gulls might, closer, prove to be 
A fleet of ravens. 

Bertulf. Against all hope. There's peace 

In England, and the harried land craves peace. 

Leofric. Lord Bertulf, this is but a peace with wolves. 
This dog-faced Edric whom the King Canute 
Has set upon our necks is worse than Dane. 

GoDiVA. Father! do you hear? (to Leofric.) A base and 
cruel 
Traitor is he not ? You would not wed him 
To a Saxon swineherd's daughter, would you? 
You would not? .... Nay, I cannot say't. . . . 

You'd hurl 
This Edric from his lordship? 

Leofric. (rising.) Lord Bertulf, 

In that cause I've staked my eorldom and my life. . . . 
To give back Edmund Ironsides his own. 
One England and one king of Hengist's line ! 
The stoutest thegns from Galloway to Lincoln 
Join with me. While Edmund lives they'll hold 
The pact. So, in your Edward's oak, I strike 
This fire-burned arrow for a sign. Your hand. 
Your help. Lord Bertulf. 



LADY GODIVA. 15 

Bertulf. (rismg.) I am poor. I cannot. 

1 gave long years of battle in my prime 

1 gave my son. I've scarce a dozen swords 
GoDiVA. Father, for England. Saxon England.'" Hear 

^1 he song agam to which you marched of old 
Ihe call of Elfled, the King's daughter." 
(The Harp is heard in a fezc strong chords, and then to a 

running obligato she recites ivith rising rapture) 

Dark night along England's coast. 
Up from their ships come the swarming foemen 

Harold bigurd heads their host; 
Swordmen and spearmen shouting to bowmen- 
J he hre, the fire for house and byre ' 

1 he steel, the steel, till the Saxons reel! 
A Valkyr feast of thegn and yeomen ! 
England, all England our spoil of war— 

A haven for Odin's raven. 

And our boast. 
That death beats time to the hammer of Thor." 

Red flame that to sleepers came, 

Rose bright through the black of the night 

Alfwyn. the Saxon king, fell in his palace. 

1 he monk at his prayers, the priest with the chalice 

Wide went the wave of rapine and slaughter 

And many a Saxon maid 

Was dragged to the Norseman's lair 

With shames untold. 

Till word came to Elfled. the dead king's daughter. 

Who. binding her golden hair, 

And girding her father's blade, 

Cried out in her voice of gold : 

"Strong sons of the Saxon land. 
Out on the foe in a whelming river, 

Shield on arm. sharp sword in hand 
England, fair England to deliver! 

The sword, the sword on the Norseland horde ' 

The spear, the spear till they blench with fear! 
Bolt from bow and arrow from quiver 

With the banner of Holy Cross before. 
To stay them and to slay them 
On the strand. 

And free our godly land for ever more. 

(Leofric has sunk kneeling at her feet, his eves raised in 
admiration, his lips parted) 



16 LADY GODIVA. 

Bertulf. The old fire bums again. My old heart leaps. 

They slew my son ; they should be slain or driven 

To the sea. 
Leofric. To-night on Bardon Hill, I light 

The signal-flame. 
Bertulf. My arm can still strike hard. 

Leofric. We would not ask a stroke from you, for here 
(indicating Godiva) Your sheltering arm finds 
use ; but friendly face 

And refuge sure. 
Godiva. No, not to fight ; but he 

Can give what he'd bestow for Edward's holy 

Memory — red gold to buy them swords and spears. 
Bertulf. What say you, child? 
Godiva. What are the carven stones 

Of monasteries, ay, of minster tow'rs 

To people who are slaves ? You'd build a pile 

Of granite from the hills while yet the hills 

Are fortresses for pirate Danes. You told 

Me you'd do this. Here now is chance to build 

A nation in our Edward's name. 
Bertulf. You have 

Betrayed my long-held hope. 
Godiva. [pleading on her knees.) For England, father. 
Bertulf. {after thought.) They'll have some gold. 
Godiva. Oh dearest, dearest father! (embracing him) 
Bertulf. You'll swear you'll never tell, whence came the 

gold? (Leofric assents) 
Bertulf. {.ring r. ) Ho there; send Grimbald to me. It is 
laid 

Where none but he and I may find its nest. 

So we save to scatter. I refused the knave 

Some gold but yesterday. 

(Enter Grimbald, a mason. He carries a short crozvbar. 
Godiva crosses to Leofric.) 

Bertulf. (taking Grimbald forimrd) Come here. I said 

To you my gold w^as gone. 'Tis not. 
Grimbald. (griMy.) I know't. 

Bertulf. Come with me to lift up the stone. 
Grimbald. You'd take 

Some forth? (looks at Leofric) That game's afoot? 
Bertulf. What game, sir dog? 

Grimbald. The Saxon trysting. 
Bertulf. You must serve, not ask. 

(Exeunt into the hall, Grimbald looking back sourly at 
Leofric, who remains with Godiva, near the tree and 
to her r. — she seated looking up at him) 



LADY GODIVA. 17 

Leofric. {looking after Bertulf) He gives what much 
he loves, {during the scene Leofric is only half 
listening to Godiva, and is ccatcliing for Bertulf) 
GoDiVA. He loves me most. 

(after a pause.) Even the white, lifting forefoot of 
your 

Black charger, I recall. 
Leofric. Because I rode 

By Edward, whom you loved. 
Godiva. Perhaps 'twas that. 

Leofric. I may not linger. I have still to seek 

Thegn Alstan's counsel. 
GoDiVA. Will he join? 

Leofric. If I 

But find as strong a champion in his daughter 

As in you. it's sure. 
GoDivA. She's very beautiful, 

They say ? 
Leofric. She shone at Court when Ethelred 

Was king. The harpers made gay ballads 

On her eyes. 
GoDiVA. Wynfreda, Lady Wynfreda, 

Are her eyes so beautiful? 
Leofric. Large and dark. 

Her mother was of Spain. 
GoDiVA. And of the court ■ 

When you were there ? 
Leofric. Ay. lady. 

GoDiVA. Then for you 

She'd pray her father, just as I prayed mine? 
Leofric. I do not know ; a fair, face is not all. 
GoDiVA. She will; because you ask in England's cause. 
Leofric. Then I do hope she will, though still I doubt. 

{Enter Bertulf and Grimbald. Bertulf carries a leather 
bag of gold) 

Bertulf. Gold, gold, long hidden from the light. 
Leofric. {taking bag) Good thegn! {to Grimbald) 
Call in my men. 

(Grimbald goes r. and calls "ho!'') 

Bertulf. {to Leofric.) A cup of ale before 

You go? (to Grimbald.q Stir not from there till I 
return. 
(GoDiVA trips into the Hall) Enter Leofric's soldiers r.) 

Leofric. (to soldiers.) Here, Hundibert, take this and 
guard 
It with your lives. Await me by the gate, (t^ointing 
off R.) 



18 LADY GODIVA. 

(Exeunt soldiers r. Grimbald X^. l. at back and goes l. of 
tree) 

(SiEGFRED appears at gate back as if watching. He is gat- 
ing off) 

Leofric. (to Bertulf) Is he who helped you surely true? 
Bertulf. Sullen 

And gruff — but true, I take it. 

{Both look at Grimbald, zvho is conscious of their gaze) 

Godiva waits you there, (^oing tozvard Hall) 

(Leofric, casting a glance after his men, goes quickly 
to Hall and exits) 

Grimbald. . Do they suspect? 

When gold is given the first-comer, why not I 
A share? 'Twas hard to 'scape his glittering eyes. 
If they search me — I'm to wait here — (taking out 
pouch of gold zvhich jingles, he starts and looks 
about) Lie there 

Awhile, (hides bag under bench) And just in time. 
(chuckling) 

Now search me, lord. 

(SiEGFRED disappears from arch at back) 

•(Enter Bertulf zvith Leofric and Godiva. She carries a 
golden pitcher in her hand) 

doDiVA. {to Leofric) Lord, when you light the fire on 
Bardon Hill 
To-night, our wishes shall be flames. 
Leofric. Ay, lady, 

(£;2/rr Eadrurga and Alfred, lier little son, running and 
crying at gate back) 

Ladburga. Help ! Help ! Help ! 

Grimbald. Wife, what is it? 

Eadburga. We are 

Left homeless, now. A troop of Danes — I choke 
For breath — have burned our little home. 

Eertulf. By Cuthbert ! 

Edric's Danes ! Forth ! forth. I'll see to it ; go ! 

(pointing off r.) 

Grimbald. Call out your carles, lord thegn, and punish 
them. 

Bertulf. (angrily) Go in! 

•(Grimbald in sullen anger takes Eadburga's hand and 
goes off R.) 



LADY GODIVA. 19 

(to Leofric) Now, speed you, we must face this dog 
With smiles. 'Twere madness to defy him now. 
Leofric. Farewell, my lord. To-night, the Saxon fire ! 

(Exit R.) 

GoDiVA. He did not say farewell to me. 
Bertulf. i like 

It so. His heart is in his work. 

{Exit to Hall) 
GoDiVA. And yet 

I would that he had not forgotten me. 

(Goes to her bozver) 

I'll watch him ride forth, from the Manor tow'r. 

(Exit) 

(Enter Runnion ivith Jillen on his arm daneiiig in. He 
carries food in a napkin in one hand. Gurth follozcs 
them) 

Runnion. Ho! Ho! Ho! (singing) It's ho for the 
life.... 

Gurth. Look here, Rusty Runnion, I want the sermon 
you promised us when I let you kiss Jillen. the sermon on 
How a Swineherd May Marry a Goose-girl. 

(Ap-Tomas appears from the door l. Runnion stops 
suddenly) 

Runnion. Here's Ap-Tomas coming for his dinner. 
Most venerable old harper, I never got a pinch of food. 

Ap-Tomas. You're a liar, and the son of a liar. 

Jillen. (laughing) That's fine. I thought he was an 
old saint. 

Ap-Tomas. a skulking liar. 

Runnion. Here, I had it for you. (giving food in a 
napkin to Ap-Tomas, zvho goes off grumbling to door l. 
and exits) 

Gurth. Now the sermon ! The sermon ! Marriage is 
the only cure for her. 

Runnion. Bretdiren, it's easier to marry than to be 
true; so marry; take a fool's advice. Steal a young pig, 
swineherd, and you goose-girl, steal a gander. Give them 
to Friar Dunstan by Bardon Hill, and he'll marry you, 

and then little swineherds and little goose-girls all 

over the shire. 

Jillen. (snatching off Runnion's cap and hitting him 
zvith it) Fie upon you! Fie upon you! (throzvs his cap 
so it falls by bench l. of tree) 



20 LADY GODIVA. 

GuRTH. Come. Jillen ! to the holy friar. 
JiLLEN. Nay. I fear to take a fool's advice. 
GuRTH. Oh, come! (drapeing her) or I'll never get 
you married. 

(Exit, dragging Jillen out at gate back. Runnion laughs 
and capers) 

( Re-enter Ap-Tomas carrying harp. It grozus darker) 

Ap-Tomas. There's trouble brewing here, and a storm 
is gathering over there. 

Runnion. Then don't let us face the storm. 

Ap-Tomas. We're better on the road. 

Runnion. No; where there's trouble, things are left 
about loose, and that's the chance for Rusty Runnion. My 
cap ! She threw it this way. (goes Hat dozvn on his belly 
to get it, starts up with the bag in one hand, the cap in the 
other. Manner suddenly changes to the ferocious furtive 
of the thief) Here's something loose ! God's blood ! 
(looks about) Yes, there's trouble about, (jingling the 
bag) Come; come quick, old man. We'll face the storm. 
(going up) 

Ap-Tomas. Let me see't. 

Runnion. Nay, softly and quick. (breathless) I'll 
sing: 

(Exit singing with Ap-Tomas out by arch at back. It 
darkens more, there is a sound of zvind and a faint 
flash of lightning. Enter Grim bald, follozving is Ead- 
BURGA zvith little Alfred by her hand) 

Eadburga. Why leave the Manor now? We have no 
home. 

All's gone, I tell you. 
Grimbald. Hush ! We've that will buy 

Another home. Cry out, if any come, (goes to bench 
and feels under it) 

It's gone! 
Eadburga. What's gone? 
Grimbald. My gold. 

Eadburga. What gold ? 

Grimbald. A curse. 

On him who took it ! They suspected me. 

'Twas Bertulf himself that took it. Miser ! 
Eadburga. Are you mad? 

Grimb.\ld. No; I'll have it; I'll have it. (a Hash of 
lightning and a peal of distant thunder) 

We must go now. 
Eadburga. In the storm? 



LADY GODIVA. 21 

Grimbald. Ay, in the storm, 

(Noise of zvind and storm at hack, a roll of thunder nearer. 
A trumpet sounds as near the gate at back. Enter 
SiEGFRED from the arch quickly, he comes fonvard. 
Enter Bertulf from the Hall) 

SiEGFRED. (quickly) 'Tis the Duke Edric. 

Bertulf. Edric ! 

SiEGFRED. With a heavy guard. 

Grimbald. (ivith malignant joy) Duke Edric! 

Eadburga. (cozvering) 'Twas his Danes who burned 

our home. 
Grimbald. He'll get me back the gold ! 
Bertulf. (to Grimbald) You may be gone! 

(Grimbald remains in sullen defiance. Enter Edric ivith 
Oswald, Ragnal and a dozen Danes) 

Bertulf. All hail, Duke Edric! Will you enter in? 

(SiEGFRED goes Up stcps to Hall) 

Edric. Who were those horsemen riding west ? Saxons ? 

Bertulf. Some friends of ours, my lord. 

Edric. Of yours or mine? 

Who heads them? 
Bertulf. Eorl Leofric. 

Edric. Questing here? 

Bertulf. He called in passing? 
Edric. Not as suitor for 

Your daughter's hand ? 
Bertulf. No lord. 

Edric. You got my message. 

Bertulf. Your captain brought your honored offer, lord. 
Edric. Well, the answer. 

Bertulf. I can tell you best withm. 

Edric. You can say "yes" or "no" without much breath. 
Bertulf. It is too grave to answer with a word. 

(SiEGFRED exits into Hall) 

Edric. Must T listen to a graybeard homily? 
What higher honor do you seek than place 
Your daughter on a ducal throne beside 
The king's? 

Bertulf. Too high, perhaps, my lord. 

Edric. Her fame 

For gentle piety is just the touch 
To grace my pow'r, for I'm no pious saint. 

Bertulf. You would not take a bride unwilling, lord? 



22 LADY GODIVA. 

Edric. {angry) Unwilling? There's some other, then? 

This Lord Leofric? 
Bertulf. {to Grimbald) I have said you should be gone. 
Edric. Why linger and smile, knave ? Do you know 

aught ? 
Bertulf. He has some foolish prayer to make? 
Edric. (looking from one to the other) Speak, knave! 

Lord Leofric? And your lord's daughter? Speak! 
Grimbald. He saw the lady, Duke. 
Edric. Ha ! Now ! 

Grimbald. And his quest 

Was treason. 
Edric. Treason ? 

Grimbald. He heads a new revolt. 

Eadburga. {to Bertulf) He has gone mad, my lord. 
Grimbald. . He gave him gold 

From his great hidden store. Leofric's gone 

To light a war-flame upon Bardon Hill. 
Bertulf. Ingrate dog! whose life I spared. 

(Eadburga exits zvailing by gate at back) 

Grimbald. {to Edric) I can get 

The gold that's left — for, a share, lord, a share. 

Edric. (fo Bertulf) A double traitor ! Flouts my offer; 
gives 
The King's enemies gold. Ragnal take 
Him in, and this good hang-dog with him. 
(Ragnal and Danes seize Bertulf and Grimbald) 

Grimbald. A share! 

Edric. Give him a dozen pieces for his news ; 
Then lash him for co-parceny in treason. 
{Guards take Bertulf and Grimbald into Hall) 

{to his men) Hus-carles ! In there and hold all at 
my orders. 

(Exeunt soldiers r.) 
A prosperous wooing ! 
(Godiva appears, on steps of bozuer. She conceals her- 
self from Edric behind the latticezvork. She listens) 

Oswald. Take the daughter now, 

Lord Edric. 
Edric. There is time enough for that; 

Nor Bertulf; he's too old to trouble with. 

But this Leofric ! Take horse ; ride after him. 
Oswald. To Bardon Hill? 
Edric. To Bardon Hill; the fire 

He lights shall be ^'our signal to attack. 

He must be taken. 



LADY GODIVA. 2a 



Oswald. He shall. 

(GoDiVA staggers, almost falls) 
Edric. If there's much gold, 

I'll take it with the girl by Gallows Pass 

To Coventry. 

(GoDiVA sinks dozvn on the steps. Taking Oswald for- 
-ccard and speaking close to him) 

Oswald, this revolt falls in 
With my great plan, which can be best wrought out 
Amid a broil. I'll have King Edmund slain 
In London, and all England shall be ours. 
I've sent a message to Canute which barely 
Gives a hint of this, so that he'll know who 
Is the builder of his fortunes. Come, the gold ! 

{Exeunt to Hall. Lightning and loud thunder. Godiva 
struggles to her feet and comes feebly, stealthily down. 
A clash of zveapons and of two quarreling voices off R. 
Enter Cuthwolf, szvord in hand. He looks hack as if 
at a fallen foe, and is crossing l. hurriedly) 

Godiva. {calling lozv) Cuthwolf! 

Cuthwolf. Who called? My lady, 

You should not be here. 
Godiva. Cuthwolf, we must ride 

To Bardon Hill to save the Lord Leofric. 

He's betrayed to Edric. 
Cuthwolf. Leave your lord father? 

Godiva. Mv father will be safe. 
Cuthwolf. I dare not take you. 

Godiva. Then, 1 go alone. 
Cuthwolf. No woman can take 

The forest path — wild, rough and perilous. 
Godiva. I shall take it, then. 
Cuthwolf. For Saxon England? 

Come, lady. I'll find horses. 
Godiva. Fast, fast steeds 

For Saxon England and — the Lord Leofric ! 

{They hasten up to gate back as Danish soldiers enter 
from R. zi'ith tzvo or three Saxon soldiers bound; the 
Hall door opens, Bertulf led out by Edric, Oswald, 
Grimbald, Ragnal, soldiers. Lightning, Thunder. 
Loud cries and shouts) 

CURTAIN. 



24 LADY GODIVA. 



ACT II. 

Scene. — On Bardon Hill. The scene should show the 
summit of a hill in Mid-England. It slopes away on the 
L. at back over a fertile rolling country zvith tracts of 
forest land, hills in distance. A road comes in rising to 
the stage level at l. 3. This road crosses the stage 
diagonally and goes off at -r. i. At c. hack the hill rises 
by a sharp rocky acclivity to a narrozv rocky crest on 
which is affixed an iron cresset mounted on a stout iron 
rod. On the l. bushes extend from r. 3, where the road 
enters, to the front. On the r., occupying the upper 
corner of the stage, a miniature Saxon Church or cell, 
whose door faces the stage. A small belfry on the little 
church. At r. 2 {tliat is, by the roadside), a large 
wooden cross socketed in a rough lichened block of lime- 
stone. A path leads by church off at back. The road 
and path are defined by grass, zvhich covers the rest of 
the stage. A rude stone bench at l. c. Time, evening, 
tozvard sunset. 

Discovered. — King Canute, Jarl Thorold, a guard of 
Danish soldiers, Wilfred, a Saxon messenger-picture. 
Canute is seated on the bench l. c. Thorold is on his 
R. The messenger is standing back c. among the Danish 
soldiers, zvho are obviously guarding him. Canute is 
reading a scroll. 

Canute, (striking letter zvith the back of his hand) This 
Edric has changed sides too often to 

Be trusted. How did he know we'd pass this way? 
Thorold. The messenger, lord-king, says he was told 

To ride to Peterboro'. So he chanced 

To meet us. 
Canute, {as if from letter) H'm. He brags and fawns 
too much. 

"Most sovereign king and over-lord, Canute." 

H'm, he's going to marry Bertulf's daughter. 

From all sides stories of his harshness come, 

Making my rule so bitter it must breed 

Revolt. (rising and laying his hand on Thorold's 
shoulder) Thorold, these Saxons do not love us, 

Yet I would win them rather than force them. 

And now, read me this riddle, (handing scroll) 
Thorold. This? 

Canute, (pointing) Read there. 



LADY GODIVA. 25 

Thorold. {rcadiiig) "I would be prophet of your greater 
glory. 

Edmund's thin thread of life once snipped in twain, 

Canute becomes the King of England, North 

And South." {look in cr up) That was the pact at 
Olney. 
Canute. Read on. 

Thorold. {reading) 'T do not think that Edmund's life 
will last 

A week. At Coventry I shall remind you, 

I've sent such message to a king before." 
(Thorold shozvs he understands, but looks blankly at 

Canute) 
Canute. Edmund's "thin thread?'' Why he is lusty as 

An English oak. strong as a Baltic storm, {pause) 

What message does he mean? 
Thorold. {quickly and in low tone) The one he sent 

To Ethelred when he had laid his plans 

To murder the Northumbrian lords. 
Canute. (/;/ disgust) No, no! 

It must not be. Such murder-plotters are 

My enemies. 
Thorold. {cunningly) But Edmund is a greater. 

Let Edric work — such reptiles have their uses. 
Canute. No. 
Thorold. Then? 

Canute. Send word to Edric that Canute 

Forbids him.... to fell timber in the forest 

Of the king. He'll understand. 

{Goes aside and sits in thought) 

Thorold. {turns — smiles — beckons a soldier, ivho ad- 
vances to him) Sitric, I'll give yon Saxon a brief word 
To carry to his lord, {loiv tone) And if he dies 
Upon the road {pointing off r.) it will not go amiss. 
I'll follow. (soldier retires up. To the messenger) 
Go with them. 

(Messenger, preceded by tzuo and follozved by tzvo sol- 
diers goes r., pausing and kneeling at the cross and 
then exits) 

(to Canute) Lord. 1 shall give 
The message. 

Canute. V^ery well. 

Thorold. {aside and looking at Canute. zvJio is still 
brooding) He hopes I will not. 
Kings must have someone bold enough to stand 
Between them and their consciences. So I'll 
Let Edric work his murder-plot in peace. 



26 LADY GODIVA. 

Canute. We'll need a guide to Alstane's Manor. 
Thorold. I'll 

Return and look to that. 

(Exit R.) 

Canute, (rises) Then speedily — (turns and 

looks over the landscape l.) 
Here England spreads its carpet for my feet — 
A land that's worth the lives of many kings. 
By Thor, this sun-kissed hill-top that the clouds 
Trail over with the touch of Valkyr wings, 
Gives golden uplift to a king's ambition, (turning r.) 
Yet here some pious follower of Him, 
Whom Satan on the hilltop failed to tempt, 
Finds it a place for humble pray'r. Who's right, 
The devil or the priest? With one I wish 
King Edmund death, and with the other life. 
And still the Fates — the three dim, spinning sisters — 
Will decide it all. 

(Enter by path r. at back Cuthwolf and Godiva. They 
come forward quickly. Canute turns abruptly. The 
Danish soldiers start alertly. Godiva zvears a peasant 
gown) 

Godiva. It is not he? 

Canute. Whom 

Do you seek upon the hilltop? 

(Godiva shrinks back) 

Cuthwolf. Lord, a friend. 

Canute. Who are you ? A bondman and a soldier, I 

See that. 
Cuthwolf. A huscarle of Lord Bertulf's guard. 
Canute. This maid? 
Cuthwolf. My sister, lord. 

Canute. A dainty sister. 

Speak girl! What friend did you expect to find? 
Godiva. You seem a Noble Dane, lord, Should you ask? 
Canute. Question for answer. Woman's way, it seems, 

In England as in Norseland. Dane, you said. 

Then, I divine you've tryst here with a Saxon. 
Godiva. Yes, lord Dane. 

Canute. And does your business end in Church? (point- 
ing r.) 
Godiva. 'Tis not for me to say, lord Dane. 
Canute. That's true. 

Men like to have the word on that. Tell me 

His name. 



LADY GODIVA. 27" 

CuTHwoLF. His name's small matter, lord. A man 

She hates would wed her, and we've come here, to ask 

If Friar Dunstan will not wed her to 

The man she likes. 
GoDiVA. No, lord, do not believe 

All that. But since our. . . . friend's not here, we'd go. 
Canute. And come again? Well, come a step with me. 
GoDiVA. I must not. 
Canute. Must not? I'm Canute, the king, 

And I command. 
GoDiVA. Canute? Cuthwolf, the king! 

CuTHWOLF. Forgive us. Majesty! 
Canute. You know Lord Alstan's 

- Manor-house? 
Cuthwolf. Some two miles hence, (pointing r.) 

Canute. Then set us 

On the Alstane road, and come back hasting to 

This friend. 
GoDiVA. May I not stay, lord King? 

Canute. No, no. 

You'll come with us. and tell us more of him. 
Godiva. Fve told your lordship nothing. 
Canutk ril tell you 

Something; you are not the sister of a thrall. 
GoDiVA. Soon, lord, 'twill be too dark to see the road. 
Canute. {to his men) March on! 

(to Godiva) The king may envy one young Saxon 

As we go. (giz'cs his hand to Godiva, zvho exhibits 
intense anxiety, at which Canute is amused) 

{Ti^'o men exeunt, then Cuthwolf follows. Canute and 
Godiva are about to follow. Chapel door opens, Dun- 
stan appears, and comes forzcard. Godiva snatches 
the reliquary from her bosom, runs and puts it in 
Dunstan 's hand) 

Godiva. This reliquary as a sign to him 

That ril return. Come, come, lord king. 

Canute. Warm love 

Most truly ; Come ! 

(Exeunt follon'cd by two soldiers) 

Dunstan. Lord king? The Norseland king. 

Canute! This Saxon reliquary and 
For whom? For "him." They piled the cresset with 
The resin-wood to-day. A new revolt ! 
What if they meet? The rebels and the king? 
Death to Canute would mean all England to 
King Edmund. Friar or not, Fm Saxon born. 



28 LADY GODIVA. 

{Goes R., as if to follozv them, but halts before the Cioss) 

O Lord, forgive this murder in my heart. 
(Kneels and prostrates himself before the Cross. A pause) 

Gurth's Voice. (oif r. at back) Come on, Jilleii. 
Come on. 

Jillen's Voice (oif) Aw, Gurth, I'm afeard ! 

GuRTH. {entering by path back of chapel and dragging 
Jillen) Come on, I say. The Friar will marry you and 
make you an honest woman. 

Jillen. I'm honest enough, Gurth. I've never been so 
far on the road before. Is it always like that, fighting and 
killing? {looking back, frightened) 

GuRTH. {sardonically) No; it's just got up for you. 

Jillen. {taking out bag of gold) Let me look at it. 
{seeing Dunstan, screams) Another corpse. It's mov- 
ing. (DuNSTAN rises) 

Gurth. Hush, fool ; it's the Friar. Good Father Dun- 
stan. . . .the. . . .the pig has escaped. 

Jillen. {curtseying) And my gander, too. I dropped 
the gander when I saw the fighting, and I dropped the pig 
when I saw the dead man. . . . 

Dunstan. What pig ; what gander ; what fighting, 
what dead man ? 

Gurth. The pig and the gander were to be your meat, 
father. 

Jillen. (sobbing) I couldn't help it.... the dead 
man .... 

Gurth. He was a two months pigling — a youngest son, 
a pet. 

Jillen. And a lovely gander; a father and a grand- 
father he was. 

Dunstan. Fools! tell your story. 

Jillen. Oh, it's wonderful, wonderful. 

Gurth. Good Father Dunstan, I want you to marry us. 
This goose-girl kisses every man she meets, and marriage 
is the only cure for that. 

Jillen. And I want to be cured, father. 

Gurth. The gleeman told us to get married ; so we 
stole the pig and the bird and took to the road. 

Jillen. We're Bertulf's thralls, father. 

Gurth. The storm wet us to the skin, and we took 
shelter. 

Jillen. I was in a hurry to see you. father, and I made 
him come on. 

Gurth. In the birch wood we came upon the Harper 
.and the gleeman fighting. The pig broke loose and ran 



LADY GODIVA. 29 

between their legs. They ran as if the devil was after 
them. 

JiLLEN. I dropped the gander, but I caught the pig. 

DuNSTAN. Will ever have done with the pig? 

GuRTH. And Jillen found this bag of jingling things 
where they were fighting. 

Jillen. Ay, and other things — great tufts of the harper's 
beard and the tail of the gleeman's cloak. Oh, 'twas fine. 

DuNSTAN. Oh, ye fools, come to the dead man. 

Jillen. Oh, we went speedily on. We were coming to 
the dead man. but we didn't know it. I coveted to see 
what was in the bag. 

GuRTH. And I coveted, so we went into the laurel 
grove below this hill. We heard a jingle of harness on 
the road. We both lay still. They halted, and two great 
Danes with a Danish lord came driving a Saxon into the 
wood. 

DuNSTAN. A Saxon ! 

Jillen. I was frozen dead with fright. 

GuRTH. Two paces from us,, they speared him dead. 

Dunstan. And said nothing? 

Jillen. The Saxon shrieked "God's mercy !" 

GuRTH. The Danish Lord said to the dead man : "Now, 
let your Master Edric fell the oak in the forest of the 
king." 

Dunstan. Was that all? 

GuRTH. Out on the road came other Danes, and there 
were high words and blame. 

Jillen. Then all went pit-a-pat down through the forest 
road. 

(GuRTH sits dozi'n and cuts the bag. The gold is seen) 

Dunstan. "The forest of the king." You never spoke? 

Jillen. I dropped the pig, and a big Dane took him on 
his spear. Now, you won't marry us. (zi'ccps) 

GuRTH. Ls this gold, father? 

Dunstan. It has the look of gold ; it's gold. 

Jillen. Gold ! 

GuRTH. How many of these are worth a suckling pig? 

Dunstan. There's gold enough to have a cardinal 
marry your Lady Godiva to a prince ; but it's stolen gold. 

Jillen. It's the Welsh harper's gold, and the Welsh 
make "fairy gold." It's "fairy gold" father. 

Dunstan. It's stolen gold. I say. 

GuRTH. Then come and marry us, for the pig was 
stolen, too. 

(A hunting horn is heard oif l. at back) 



30 LADY GODIVA. 

DuNSTAN. Into the chapel and pray. And if I am de- 
layed, you'll find some bread and cheese in the cupboard 
of my cell that's in the rock below. 

JiLLEN. Come and pray that he won't be long. 

{They go in quickly, Gurth clutcliing the bag. Dunstan 
goes up L. and looks off) 

Dunstan. More lovers! (comes dozvn) The Saxon 
in the gorge below there, dead, unshriven. I'll go there. 
(going R.) Strange. Edric to cut down an oak in the forest 
■ of the king. 

(The light is changing to sunset glon'. Dunstan exits 
quickly R. at back. Enter Leofric, leading the Lady 
Wynfreda) 

Wynfreda. It is. I do insist, most strange and full 

Of omen that we meet on Bardon Hill. 
Leofric. Not strange when your good father's Manor lies 

So close, and I bent thither. 'Tis not strange 

That you go hawking. 
Wynfreda. You would rob a woman 

Of the signs and omens that she loves to find 

In all that has to do with man. 
Leofric. I'd see 

Your father. 
Wynfreda. Leofric, it is meet you'd first 

See me. (laughs and curtseys) 
Leofric. Wynfreda, 'tis no jest. I'm here 

To set King Edmund on all England's throne. 
Wynfreda. (mockingly) I thought 'twas settled that the 
King Canute — 

A young and handsome Dane, they say — should reign 

In this half- England. Now, another war ! 

I've sent my father, fierce a Saxon as 

He is, to seek the new king's favor. 
Leofric. He? 

Wynfreda. Oh. 'tis most stale and dull in these gray 
shires 

To one who's seen the show and glow of courts. 
Leofric. Your father is at York? 
Wynfreda. There is welcome still 

Eor you. Leofric. Forget this rebel mood. 

(Enter Hundibert l. at back) 
Hundibert. My lord, 

The gold is safe with Wilfred, and we wait 

The signal — (stops, seeing Wynfreda) 
Leofric. Guard the valley road and let 

Me know if friend or foe approach. 
Hundibert. Ay, lord. 



LADY GODIVA. 31 

{Exit L.) 

Wynfreda. This madness is well underway — a signal? 

Leofric. When Melton Abbey rings the vesper bell, 

The flame from there (pointing to cresset) will rouse 
all Mercia. 

Wynfreda. (in anger) Ha! 

(softly) Leofric, there is still an hour to weigh 
Your life. I may seem light of heart and love. 
But you know well that L .. .(sits on bench) 

Leofric. (approaching her) You'd best be gone. 
Our ways will be apart, I fear. 

Wynfreda. Do you 

Remember one September night like this? 

(Enter Godiva r. i. She is tired, hut fighting her fa- 
tigue. She is about to advance, and seeing Leofric is 
about to speak, but seeing Wynfreda ivith him, she 
staggers back to the cross, and sinks upon the stone 
at its foot) 

We floated on the king's barge down the Thames — 
A flood of moonlight on the stream — 'mid harp 
And song that made the air one minstrelsy. 

Leofric. I was then mere boy. 

Wynfreda. Our eyes had lingered on 

Each other, and our hands, once touched, had clasped 
In shadow by our sides. Was not life sweet 
That night? 

(Enter Cuthwolf, he sees Godiva, then Leofric. Godiva 
makes a gesture of command that he go forzvard. 
Cuthwolf advances. Godiva zvatches intently) 

Cuthwolf. My lord, the Danes are on your track. 

I'm of Lord Bertulf's huscarles, and I know. 
Wynfreda. (rising) Renounce this madness! At Al- 
stane's Manor you'll 
Be safe. 
Leofric. (to Cuthwolf) What more? 
W^ynfreda. (pointing to cross) Some shape of woman's 

there. 
Cuthwolf. One braving all, my lord, in England's cause. 

(Godiva startles as if about to flee) 

Leofric. A woman! (goes quickly to Godiva) Lady 
Godiva! (leading her tenderly to c, she weak and 
reluctant) 
Wynfreda. Oho ! 

In England's cause? Thegn Bertulf's only daughter! 
My Lord Leofric, you are nobly served — 
In England's cause ! 



32 LADY GODIVA. 

Leofric. ( tenderly to Godiva) How came it, lady, that 

Thro' storm, and forest paths you came yourself 

And did not send? 
Godiva. (feebly) I had done as well to send, 

My lord; but, being here, I'd tell you not 

To light the signal-flame. 
Wynfreda. (satirically) God's mercy, she 

Is of my mind. Thinks more of your cause than 

Of England's. 
Godiva. Not lady, of your mind, although 

I tell him not to start a fire will bring 

Duke Edric's hounds about him. I'm not craven, 
Wynfreda. Your convent dreams have not forbid the 
seed 

Of love to flower rankly. Fy ! 
Godiva. Oh, lady ! 

Leofric. {to Wynfreda) Surely, you should not mock 
her thus. 

If, in her love of England, she's of help 

To me. 
Godiva. I would not that anyone should think 

It otherwise. I have some words of warning 

For you ; then I must be gone. A mile 

Beyond the Alstane road, Duke Edric's carles 

Lie watching for a flame. 

(Wynfreda starts and clenches her liands at hearing fJiis) 

Come, Cuthwolf. we'll 
Go back. 
Leofric. No ; on my soul, you shall not ere 

I thank you in the name of Saxon England. 
Rest for a little space; you're tired and weak, {seat- 
ing her on bench) 
Godiva. {shelving an inner delight at his zcords) My 
lord, I've done small service. 

(Enter Dunstan r. at back. He bears a szvord. He comes 
forzvard, dropping the szvord near the cross, on seeing 
the group) 

Dunstan. Lord Leofric. 

Wynfreda. Good Dunstan, come with me as far as where 

My falconers await. 
Dunstan. Would you go now? 

Wynfreda. These lovers.... of Saxon England have 
some. . . .thanks 

To interchange. 



LADY GODIVA. 35 

DuNSTAN. {seeing Godiva) This reliquary, maiden, 

That you gave me! . Was't for him? (handing it to 
her) 
Wynfreda. Love-tokens? 

Godiva. My thanks. 

Wynfreda. Come Friar ! They best had speed their 

wooing. 
{to Lbofric) Not a word to stay Wynfreda? No, 

not one ; 
But stand there dumb before this rustic hoyden. 
Leofric. Lady Wynfreda ! 

Wynfreda. (mockingly) Trust me these convent maids! 
(fiercely) The arrow with a goose's feather may 
Fly fast and far, but I know something swifter. 
We'll see. Come, priest, they will not need your 
pray'rs. 

(Exit quickly r. i, followed by Dunstan, zvho looks a- 
ivondering from Godiva to Leofric. Cuthwolf follozvs 
them off as zvatching them. Leofric takes a step after 
her, then halts and turns quickly to Godiva) 

Godiva. I would not cause the lady anger. I had 
No choice, but rudely break upon your soft 
Remembrances. I would I had not seen 
Or heard. My lord, I never was at Court, 
Nor longed for it. You will forgive me if 
The lady will not. 

Leofric. Forgive you? These poor clothes, 

These sandals tattered on the mountain stones, 
To bear a saving word to me ! 

Godiva. The storm 

O'ertook and drenched us, and Cuthwolf brought me 
To his sister's house, who gave me this dry gown. 
Do not think of it again. 

(Looks at reliquary, ivhich is still in her hand, and starts) 

Leofric. (follozving her glance) The Friar said 
You gave him that — your Edward's reliquary ! 

Godiva. Yes, for a sign — I said "for him.'' I did 
Not dare to breathe your name. 

Leofric. Not dare? 

Godiva. The king, 

Canute was by; was there 

Leofric. Canute, and here? 

Godiva. 'Tis swiftly told. We reached this spot before 
Your coming, and came upon the king with men 
About him. He questioned us. But for the wit 
Of Cuthwolf T had betrayed myself; he said 



34 LADY GODIVA. 

I was his sister. Despite my rough attire, 

The King suspected I was not a thrall. 
Leofric. (Naming up) Did he then treat you with a scant 

respect ? 
GoDiVA. He was courteous, as a king might be. He named 

Himself and bade us show the way to Alstane. 
Leofric. Is he there .-■ 
GoDiVA. No ; half-way there a murder-cry 

Rang out. The king had bitter speech with one 

He called Jarl Thorold about the man they slew, 

Who was, it seems, a messenger of Edric's. 

Then asked us for the road to Coventry, 

And so dismissed us. 
Leofric. Canute, so near our grasp 

To Coventry? Well, now we know where first 

To strike. 
GoDiVA. Not there. My brain whirls so. My tale's 

Not told. Duke Edric sought my hand in marriage. 

Came to our Manor suddenly, and, guided 

By a traitor, took the gold that still remained. 

Then sent a force to take you when you light 

The flame. Edric himself will meanwhile go 

By Gallows Pass, the gold in charge. I thought 

You might pounce on him there. 
Leofric. A bold device. 

I'll do it out of hand. 

(GoDivA reels and is about to fall; Leofric catches her and 
leads her to the bench.) 

Leofric. Brave girl ! 

GoDiVA I overheard them. . . . came. . . . that's all. 
Came. . . .for our Saxon cause. I kept on telling 
Myself that, as on we stumbled thro' the forest. 
Lest I'd turn back to be beside my father. 
But I'd heard Duke Edric say, my father was 
Too old to trouble with. . . . His villain words 
Brought me strange comfort, as we journeyed on. 

Leofric. Your poor hand trembles so. I'll fetch some 
water 
From the spring. 

GoDiVA. Do not leave me, lord, a cloud 

Of war seems gathering around this hill. 
I shall be stronger soon. {withdraws her hand) 
'Twill soon be night. 

(Enter Cuthwolf r. i.) 

CuTHWOLF. The harper and the gleeman come afoot. 
Shall I let them pass? 



LADY GODIVA. 35 

Leofric. Yes, so they linger not. 

(CUTHWOLF exits.) 

GoDiVA. They made gay ninsic for us in the morning. 
Now it is another song, (fhcy stand aside l. ) 

(The voice of Runnion trolling a merry lay is heard in- 
distinctly at first and growing louder. Enter Runnion, 
foUozved by the harper. They are crossing the stage. 
Runnion stops singing and halts) 

Ap-Tomas. There's no luck in a chapel on a hill, when 
the sun is set. 

Runnion. I find good luck wherever I find meat. You 
tore my coat for luck. 

Ap-Tomas. You plucked my beard for deviltry. 

Runnion. I left you some for luck. A bard without a 
beard would spoil our little strolling company. 

Ap-Tomas. I'm hungry. Runnion, and I'd like some 
cold roast mutton. 

Runnion. Well, play your old harp and dream you're 
eating lamb, (going.) Come on; it's a long trot to Coven- 
try. 

Ap-Tomas. Will we rest on the other slope? 

Runnion. Ay, and when we have emptied our bread- 
sack, ril spend the gold that you lost while you play "The 
Song of King Alfred's Dinner." 

Ap-Tomas. There's not much bread in the sack. 

{Exeunt l. at back.) 

(GoDiVA on the bench has remained crouched and staring 
dreamily. As they go off she rises painfully and stag- 
gers back again. Moonlight begins to flood the scene 
and stars begin to glimmer) 

Leofric. Let me call Cuthwolf ; he will bring you water. 

GoDiVA. I drank at the spring where it babbles by 
The path (rising.) I must go home. There, in 
His rifled house my father waits, if haply 
(zvith sudden terror) Edric did not slay him. or hold 

him fast. 
My place is there. 

Leofric. Your noble father. 

GODIVA. All 

I can do here is done. New strength will come 
To me with every step that brings me home. 
Farewell. 

Leofric. iNot farewell. 



36 LADY GODIVA. 

GoDivA. Your place is where your cause 

Commands. You stand for England in my ey'es. 

I would not have you take one step aside 

For me ; not more than for that Lady whom 

You loved. 
Leofric. She's nothing in my thought. 

GoDivA. (the harp is heard playing a love melody) Not 
now, 

But long ago, she said. 
Leofric. I never knew 

What love is till to-day. 
GoDiVA. (betzveen hope and fear.) To-day? 
Leofric. I am 

A soldier bred to fight, and this glad morning 

When you told of Elfied, the king's daughter, 

My soul was stirred to war — as if I heard 

A trumpet sound across a blood-red sea ; 

But in the stillness of the forest ways 

I found another joy. 
GoDivA. (Hereely) Wynfreda ! 
Leofric. (strongly.) Nay, 

I do not love her, never did. 
GoDivA. (zvith sudden gleam, but speaking fearfully) You 
found 

Another joy? 
Leofric. (tenderly.) Your face, your spirit came 

To me, and I loved. Godiva. 

One small vv^ord ! 
GoDivA. I — cannot. I know not. Lord, 

I must be gone. Call Cuthwolf, it grows dark. 
Leofric. Lll go with you. 

GoDiVA. You must not — now — not now. 

Leofric. (quickly.) You came forbidding me to light the 
flame. 

Why, at the first tap of the Abbey bell, 

I can fire it, and escape. 
GoDivA. No, no, 

Fd die of terror at that risk. 
Leofric. (strongly.) No risk 

To the Saxon cause. 
GoDivA. (zvith all her soul) No, Leofric! No! 

Not for all Saxon England ! 
Leofric. Godiva ! 

You love me, you love me ! 

{taking her hands) The dear, sweet love 

That takes us unawares. 
GoDiVA. (zvithdrazi'ing her hand.) The jealous stars 

Are stealing out to end our happiness, (pressing her 
hajids to her bosom) 



LADY GODIVA. 37 

Leofric. Their eyes have never looked thro' clearer depths 

Of joy. (stretching out his hands to her) 
GoDiVA. {drawing forth the reliquary and extending it to 
him betzi'cen her hands, which are closed as in 
prayer) On the gold and the saintliness 
Of this dear relic let us plight our troth. 
Leofric. (reverently kissing it.) Your voice sounds 
sweeter than the vesper song, (as she is kissing 
the reliquary) 
GoDiVA. (starting from him — the harp sound ceases.) 
Than vesper-song; it's on the hour, and here 
We madly linger. 
Leofric. (taking his neck-scarf.) Wear this then for our 

Trulofa; the sign that I'm forever yours. 
GoDiVA. Leofric. (putting it to her breast) 

(Enter Cuthwolf and Dunstan r. i.) 

CuTHWOLF. Lord, you must begone. Speak, 

father. 
Dunstan. The Lady Wynfreda means you ill. She's gone 

Alone to where the Danes await the flame. 

She'll bid them come without awaiting it. 
GoDiVA. She heard me tell you not to set the fire. 
Leofric. Give me a torch, Friar, and I'll light their way. 
Dunstan. That were vain boasting, lord. 
GoDivA. You must 

away, (pointing l. at back) 

(Enter Hundibert l. at back zcith four Saxons) 

HuNDiBERT. Leofric. a small band of Danes are on 

The road below. 
Leofric. We can break through them. 

GoDivA. No ; 

There is a safe way by the path I came 

(pointing r. at back) Thro' Charnwood Forest! 
Leofric. It takes us from our goal. 

But is it safe for you? 
Dunstan. None know it but 

The forest-bred, like Cuthwolf. 
Leofric. (to Godiva.) Then 'tis yours, 

With this brave man to guide. 
Cuthwolf. And guard with life. 

My lord. 
Leofric. With you safe sped, we'll dash through 

these 

Few Danes. 
The Saxons, (in tierce assent.) Ay! Ay! 



38 LADY GODIVA. 



GoDJVA. {to HuNDiBERT.) They are not many spears? 
HuNDiBERT. No, lady. 

GoDiVA. (after a pause, lifting her eyes to the cresset and 
her face suddenly lighting -with a strong inspira- 
tion) Then, Godspeed, my lord. Come, 

Brave Cuthwolf, come, {as if her will fails suddenly) 

.... Oh, no ; I cannot go. 
Leofric. Then I remain. 
DuNSTAN. Go, lady. 

GoDiVA. {recovering herself.) Yes, Til go. 

Leofric. {Xing to her) Speed, dearest; here's my work 

at hand. 
GoDiVA. Farewell, 

Leofric. 
Leofric. Blessings and godspeed, my love ! 

Cuthwolf. Come, lady. 

{Exeunt l. at back, Cuthwolf leading Godiva^ zvho looks 
back lovingly at Leofric) 

Leofric. {after a pause, watching her off and coining 

resolutely forward.) Friar, a torch! 
DuNSTAN. Why call your foes, 

And risk all for a flash of flame? 
Leofric. You're right. 

Yet Mercia is awaiting it. Fd give 

Half life to fire it at the vesper bell. 

And see the hills upblazing in reply. 
Hundibert. Should we delay, lord? 
The Saxons. No ! 

Leofric. {going to Dunstan — tenderly.) Fd have you 
watch 

For her. 
Dunstan. In fifty paces she was safe. 

Go forth, assured. 
Leofric. {turning resolutely.) Now softly down the road 

Till I cry "Edmund" ; then your swords ! 

{The Saxons pass out l. at back zvith Hundibert, Leofric 
drazvs his szvord Watch, father. Follozvs szmftly 
off. Dunstan extends his hands in blessing, turns, 
goes forzvard; takes up the dead Saxon's sword) 

Dunstan. The murdered Saxon's sword ! Now Danes 
will die. 
This awful silence on the brink of war. {lays it down 
on cross pedestal. Crosses himself and enters the 
chapel in zvh.ich presently appears a dim light 
shozving through the zvindozus. Stage darkens 
zcith the effect of a cloud on the face of the moon) 



LADY GODIVA. 39> 

GoDivA. (suddenly appearing at back — r. — she is 
dishevelled, breathless, as from climbing, her up- 
per garment completely torn, slwzving the white 
of her chemise almost from the zvaist up.) I'll not 
be stayed ; don't touch me ! 

CuTHwoLF. (appearing.) Nay, I must. 

GoDiVA. (rushing forzuard — seeing szvord.) A sword!' 
Stand off. The Lord Leofric said 
That Mercia watches longing for the flame 
From Bardon Hill. He's gone to strike her foes. 
I'll light the signal fire, (rushes past Cuthwolf and 
clambers lightly up the rocky summit. She peers 
down over the road l. at back. I cannot see them. 

Cuthwolf. My lady, I am sworn your guard. You shall 
Not writhe away from me again, (is about to ascend 
zvhen chapel door opens quickly and Dunstan ap- 
pears) 

DuNSTAN. (seeing Cuthwolf.) What do 

You here? And Lady Godiva? 

(Stage lightens as with moonlight again, still looking off l.) 

Ah see. 
I catch the glint of steel. Their spears flash up. 
They're charging ! There ! For God and Saxon 

England ! 
They've broken through. The Lord Leofric at 
Their head. Well done ! Well done ! 
Cuthwolf. Now come, 

my lady. 
Godiva. No ; first a torch, or here I stay till fire 

From Heaven comes. 
Dunstan. (loudly.) Lady Godiva; no ! (the vesper 

bell sounds slozvly as far off) 
Godiva. Hear it ! The vesper bell, the vesper bell ! 

A torch ! A torch, I say. 
Jillen- (torch in hand, entering quickly from the chapet 
and clambering a step or tzvo up the rocks.) Here, 
lady! 
Godiva. (reaching dozen.) Jillen! Here! (takes torch 
and puts it to cresset zvhich biases up) Now, Eng- 
land, blaze ! Jillen descends and stands at side 
appalled. A clank of steel off r.) 
Cuthwolf. The Danes ! 

(Enter Oswald, Ragnal and a force of Danes.) 
Oswald. Surrender ! 

Take that woman alive ! 



40 LADY GODIVA. 

{The Danes charge on Ciithwolf, zvho slays the first. The 
rest overbear him, throwing him to the ground, Rag- 
NAL standing over him. Oswald clambers up on her 
R. Some spearmen on her l. Lights begin to appear 
on the hills around) 

GoDiVA. The hills are blazing; England is in arms. 
He's safe ! I fear you not. Take me ! Take me ! 

TABLEAU— CURTAIN. 



LADY GODIVA. 41 



ACT III. 



Scene. — Chapter Room of the Convent of St. Michael the 
Archangel. It is of Gothic architecture, oblong as far 
forzcard as 2, zvJiere it turns R. and l., clustered columns 
at the angles running up to the groined ceiling; stained 
glass zcindoivs of geometrical design high up the zvalls at 
the sides. At back a rose ivindozc of stained glass. In 
the zvindozv on the bend l. a life-sice stained glass figure 
of St. Michael, the Archangel bearing a szvord. {It is 
practical to open inzvard on a hinge.) In the correspond- 
ing bend r. a niche zjcith statue of the Virgin, before zvhich 
burns a small red chancel lamp. Midzvay of the zuall l. 
a one-step dais on zvhich stands a heavy ecclesiastical 
throne or chair. To the R. of the chair {and on the dais) 
a small table covered zvith a zvhite altar cloth. On this 
table at back stands an ebony and ivory cruciUx. Tozvards 
the front of the table the coffer containing the zveb given 
by GoDiVA. At upper front corner of dais a great candle- 
stick of brass on zvhich are three lighted candles. Over 
the dais a stone canopy braced to the zvall. Before the 
zi'indozi.' at l. i an oblong old-oak table zvith a couple 
of large scarlet-bound books zvith heavy clasps upon it. 
A mediccval stool to r. of table. Entrances, a large 
double door at back, shozving a passage zvhen opened, 
also a draped entrance at r. 2. It is night coming to- 
zvard morning. The stage is dark zvhen the curtain rises 
except for the candles near the dais and the red dot of 
light in the lamp before the Virgin's statue. 

Discovered. — The Abbess Edelgitha seated in the chair 
L., her hands joined in prayer. Voices of nuns r. and 
back to lozv organ accompaniment. The voices cease 
and a lozv voluntary continues on the orgaii 

Abbess, {solemnly laying her hand on the coffer) Thrice 
blessed for the dead ; thrice blessed for the dead ! 
My winding sheet, my winding sheet. O Lord ! 

(Opening the lid and slozvly drazving out the zveb, zvhicJi 

as she speaks the follozving lines she passes from 

right hand to left until some of it touches the floor on 

her left. The light steals up a little, just suMcienf to 

. shozv the architectural outlines of the room) 

It came from the hands of the sweet and pure, 
The flower that bloomed in these convent walls, 
From the fair Godiva, the gift of Heaven. 



42 LADY GODIVA. 

{Rising ZiHtJi anus upraised and hands held apart, the web 
curving betzceen and falling on either side. The or- 
gan sounds a little fuller) 

Woven of prayers and dreams, be it blessed 
In St. Edmund's name ; mv shroud, my winding sheet 
Till the Judgment day. {clasping it to her breast and 
___ sinking back into the chair — the organ ceases) 

(Enter at back Sister Angeline, a young nun. She car- 
ries a flambeau. Lights raised a little. A faint light 
comes through the stained glass windozvs) 

Angeline. (adz'ancing.) Mother; it is almost dawn; 
it will be a bright day for the feast of St. Michael the 
Archangel, (approaching the Abbess.) Oh, the beautiful 
web; and must it, must it be kept for your shroud? 

Abbess, (putting it back in coffer.) Ay, sister, conse- 
crated to the dead. 

Angeline. It seems a pity. Holy Mother; it might be 
the veil of a mortal bride. 

Abbess. The dead are brides and grooms of immor- 
tality. 

Angeline. When Sister Agatha and I opened the great 
gate of the convent, people already were astir. There were 
glad cries in the streets. A gleeman went by singing a 
merry song. Then came a loud clatter of horsemen. It 
Mali be, they say, the gayest Michelmas ever known to 
Coventry. 

(The zi'eb is nozc replaced and the lid of the coffer closed) 

Abbess. Go, little chatterer ; the pomp and pride 
Of worldly pleasuring should never pass 
The convent gate. 

Angeline. (turning to go up.) But the gleeman's song, 
mother, 

(Abbess rises and steps dozvn from dais, Angeline giving 
her a hand) 

Came like a flock of birds about our ears. 

(Enter suddenly at back Oswald. Angeline starts; the 
Abbess turns) 

Oswald. We'd lodge a prisoner of Duke Edric's here. 
Abbess. This is no prison of Lord Edric's, sir. 

You are, I see, a Northman, one of Edric's. 

Learn, then, a higher Lord rules here. 



LADY GODIVA. 43 

Oswald. You'll lodge 

This prisoner; she has lodged here before. 

{Goes up, throws open double door, a rosy morning gloiv 
is seen in the corridor; goes out and raises his hand 
beckoning r. and re-entering, going r. c.) 

Angeline. Who can it be, Mother? 

Abbess. Wait, sister, wait ! 

(Tzvo Danish guards appear from r. at back; they pass 
by the door — then Godiva appears. She is more 
disheveled and ragged even than at close of second 
act. She is suffering from cold and fright) 

Oswald, {to Godiva.) Come; this is your jail till Lord 
Edric comes. 

(Godiva shivers and looks timorously r. and l., but does 
not stir) 

Oswald. Bring her, or shall I drag you ? 

{The tzvo soldiers from l. of door and tzvo more from 

r. of door, close in behind her. One touches her zvith 

. his hand. She shrinks from the touch, and comes in 

a fezv steps. Angeline has gone tozvard her, and holds 

the torch near her face) 

Angeline. 'Tis Godiva ! 

Lady Godiva ! 

(Godiva looks an instant at Angeline, then sees the Ab- 
bess, zuho has drazvn back in surprise and pain. 
Godiva gives a lozv, hunted cry and runs forzvard, 
kneeling at the feet of the Abbess and clinging to her 
robe, L. c.) 

Godiva. Mother, dearest Mother ! 

Abbess. It is you, indeed. How comes it. . . . this attire 
In rags, these road-stained feet, this pallid face, 
And these fierce men, who call you prisoner? 

Godiva. Oh Mother, I am cold, I am cold. First 

Warm me, warm my heart, before you bid me tell. 

Oswald. She's ever some excuse for sullen silence. 

Abbess. This is a noble lady, not a base-born churl. 
Why this indignity upon her? Rise, 
My child ; be comforted. 

Oswald. 'Tis her own doing, 

She is held for treason to our lord, the King, 
And bides here till Lord Edric comes. 'Twill not 
Be long. Duke Edric will decree her doom. 



44 LADY GODIVA. 

GoDiVA. I do not fear them, Mother ; do not fear 

For me. I shiver, I am very cold. 
Abbess. Northman, you've given her sanctuary. Here 

Within these holy walls, 

{taking GoDiVA to her breast) no duke, no king 

Shall harm or drag her forth. 
Oswald, (coarsely mockina;.) Ha, we have now 

A Danish king, Canute, who'll let no cross 

Bar up his way. We burned cathedrals not 

So long ago, and Edric's of our mind. 

We're here to take her out at will. 
Abbess. Blasphemer ! 

(to GoDivA.) Come, child, by the fire, and tell me 
what it means. 
Oswald, (to the guards.) Keep her in sight; follow! 

(Crossing unth her r., Angeline preceding them, exits r. 

Abbess and GoniVA exeunt r. The guards folloiv them 

off) 
Oswald, (to the other t7vo.) You watch without. 

(The guards turn to go up as Enter Edric) 

Oswald. My lord ! 

Edric. Your lord? Yes, I. Your prisoner? 

Is it Leofric? 
Oswald. No. lord, he had warning 

And escaped. 
Edric. Escaped? Warning? Who could ride 

. Faster than you rode? Who knew your errand? 
Oswald, (saz'agely.) My 

Prisoner. 
Edric. In the name of hell, who is he? Speak. 

Oswald, (sullenly.) No man; a woman: the Lady Go- 
diva. 
Edric. The Lady Godiva ! . . . . that. . . . girl ! . . . . 
Ha! Ha! 

You rave, you dream. 
Oswald. Except by witchcraft, it is 

Not to say how she flew thither : but there 

On Bardon Hill she was, firing the signal. 

And crying "He is safe." 
Edric. Go, bring her here. 

Oswald. First let me tell you that your messenger 

To King Canute is slain, and slain by Danes, 

They say. 
Edric. ^ ^» By Danes. . . . I'll not believe it. Yet, 

If 'tis'^.|;^he reached the King, who has my letter, 
(^^^ig grimly) 



LADY GODIVA. 45 

Telling him that Edmund's days are numbered. 
Killed my messenger? That means the king gives sly 
Consent, but washes his hands of it, and must 

Have silence on it Well, I'll keep straight on. 

(suddenly.) Leofric's still at large? 
Oswald. Mercia is 

rising 
At his call. ... A signal on every hill. 
Edric. We'll quench their fires in blood. . . . we've done't 

before. 
Oswald, (eagerly.) Has the gold we took come safe? 
Edric. I sent it 

By Gallows Pass in care of my stoutest carles ; 
And came here. . . . bringing Bertulf. 
Oswald. I have some 

Prisoners besides, a soldier and a pair 
Of fikhy thralls. 
Edric. Bring in the girl. 
Oswald. She would 

Not speak. 
Edric. I'll make her speak; leave her to me. 

Send her, and then ride fast as horse can go 
To Stafford Stone. There, you should meet a.... 

monk, 
And if he moans and cries "King Edmund's dead." 
Ride back and tell me. It will be our stroke 
Of Fortune. So, ride fast. 
Oswald, {going r.) At your word, my lord. 

Edric. I've thrown a lure to bring King Canute here. 
But since they've slain my messenger, it's like 
He will not come. Yet bring the news, and I 
Shall find the king. Go. . . . send the girl. 

(Exit Oswald r.) 

(going forward.) I'll crush 

This new revolt, but crush Leofric first, 
Who'd stand between me and Godiva ! Hush ! 

(Enter at the door r. the Abbess. She carries a silver ex- 
tinguisher. Edric starts toward her, but halts) 

Abbess, (coldly.) Lord Duke! 

Edric. (mock courtesy.) Most holy mother, I had sent 

For a fair young rebel, and I think that you, 

Altho' attractive to the angels, scarcely 

Answer that prescription. 
Abbess, (by the chair l.) Lord, have a care. 

There is an angel with a sword. 



46 LADY GODIVA. 

Edric. (looking up at windozv l., zvJiich is nozv lighted 
up by the daylight zvithout, lozv tone.) Ha, 

Michael ! 
(From this on lights raised to daylight gradually) 

Abbess, (going to the table and extinguishing the candles 
one by one) As one by one these lights are 
quenched, think thrice 
Before yon tempt the angel with the sword. 

(The organ sounds far off . . . .a bell rings in the con- 
vent. Edric has an instant of superstitious fright. 
Enter by the door r.. Lady Godiva. She is not so 
disheveled, and as if her torn garments had been 
hastily pinned together. She is stronger, but the strain 
shozi's in her nervous zvatchfulness. She stands r. c. 
The guards enter after her) 

Edric. (recovering himself.) Fair lady! 

(Signals to the guards to be gone. They move tozvard 

the door at back) 
Abbess. Lord Edric. 

(Godiva starts and turns a look at once startled and defiant 
at Edric) 

As your mother was 

A woman, treat this lady not nngently. 
(Xing to Godiva) 

Edric. (false courtesy.) Have no fear; she has her treat- 
ment in her own 

Fair hands. 
Godiva. Good mother, ask this lord no favor. 

Not for me. 
Edric. (mocking.) Ah, very proud. 
Godiva. (fo Abbess.) But pray for me. 

(The Abbess bozvs her head and exits.) 

Edric. Pray for us all: pray that this fair young saint 

Be merciful. . . . unto herself. 

(to the guards.) Await, 

Without. 
{The guards exeunt at back. Godiva zvatchcs them depart) 

Now, lady, will you have mercy on 
Yourself? They tell a tale about you, not 
To a maiden's credit. . . . But yesterday 
I asked your father for your hand ; to-day, 
It seems you are unworthy of that honor. 



LADY GODIVA. 47 

GoDiVA. Honor? I. my lord, could not esteem it so. 
Edric. So then, it's true that not alone you flung 

This honor back at me. but fled at once 

To a rebel lord. ... a traitress and a wanton. 
GoDiVA. (shocked.) Ah! I must be strong: I must not 

fear him. 
Edric. Ha ! 

You shrink at that. 
GoDiVA. T am not used to such 

Rude speech. 
Edric. (false courtesy) The nuns are nicer in their words : 

(fiercely.) But all their teaching did not cool your 
blood. 
GoDiVA. (aroused.) My lord, if I stand prisner. ... in 
your power here. 

And you are base enough to shape the words 

That shame a woman, you shall not think me 

Coward as yourself. 
Edric. Coward ? Coward ? 

GoDiVA. No brave man yet in all the world has stooped 

To stab a woman, pure of heart, with that 

Word. . . . w^anton. 
Edric. But when herself has burned the 

brand 

Upon her, as you with Lord Leofric. ... 

(GoDiVA starts angrily.) 

See, 

You tremble at his name. 
GoDiVA. With anger, lord. 

He is so great at heart, so true, so brave. 

That but to hear his name upon your lips 

Is profanation. 
Edric. You shall hear't again 

And again, before an hour is gone. His life 

Is forfeit. You'd best iook to't to save your own. 

For soon or late I'll have him in my hands. 

Make terms with me, and it shall count for you. 
GoDiVA. I have naught to say to serve your purpose, or. . . 

To save my life. 
Edric. We'll see. (going up) Ho, there : 

bring in 

The others taken with this. .. .girl. 

(Godiva goes foncard r. and turns, looking anxiously at 
the door back. The double door Hung open. Enter 
guards ivith Gurth and Jillen, Eadburga and little 
Alfred — the latter stay by the door r. — tlien Ragnal) 



48 LADY GODIVA. 

Edric. (to Ragnal.) Who are they? 

(GuRTH and Jillen pushed forward.) 

Ragnal. Two of Bertulf's thralls, my lord, a swineherd 

And a goose-girl. 
Edric. Your fit companions, lady? 

Jillen. Aw, my lady ! my lady ! I was afeard the 
bloody Danes had killed you. 

(going tozvard Godiva — stopped by Edric) 

Edric. Back, filthy thrall. 

Jillen. (going to Gurth, who is r. c.) Who is he, 
Gurth, that calls me names? 

Gurth. I dunno, Jillen, so they don't cuft' us, we'll 
hold our clappers. 

Edric. You- went with this woman to Bardon Hill? 

Gurth. She's no woman ; that's our lady. 

Edric. You went with her? 

Jillen. Naw ; we wouldn't dare ; we went to get mar- 
ried — Gurth and I. 

Gurth. And we were niver married, for all we were 
hours in the chapel. 

Edric. You saw her with Leofric. the traitor. 

Jillen. Naw. never. 
. Gurth. It's not Leofric the traitor, great lord — it's 
Edric the traitor. 

Edric. Blood and wounds, knave, I am Edric. You dare 
say that to my face? 

Gurth. Jillen, he'll skin us alive, and we shan't be mar- 
ried after all. (drawing back r.) 

(Enter at back Lady Wynfreda. Godiva, zvho has been 
zvatching the scene facing up stage, on seeing Wyn- 
freda enter, turns front, clenches her hands, and draws 
herself up) 

Edric. I'll know the truth if I must kill you all. 

(seeing Wynfreda) The Lady Wvnfreda ! Hail, 
Lady ! 
Wynfreda. (bozving) Lord Duke, 

I've come from Alstane Manor. I've heard 

You've taken Lord Leofric prisoner. 

(Godiva starts and turns suddenly) 

Godiva. It's not true. You betrayed him, but he's free. 
Wynfreda. And you are the prisoner? God a-mercy, 

Let me laugh. 
Edric. She denies all knowledge of 

Leofric. 



LADY GODIVA. 49 

Wynfreda. She gave him her father's gold ; 

She shares his hopes ; she knows his plans. What else 
She is to him, I'll leave unsaid. 
GoDivA. Say all. 

You can say no more than this caitiff lord. 
Wyxfreda. This to you. my lord. Make her speak ; she'll 
tell 
To save her life. She came to Bardon Hill, 
A single soldier with her. They know where he 
He has gone. 
Edric. Where is the soldier? 

GoDivA. Brave Cuthwolf. 

Edric. He shall lead my men to Leofric's tryst. 
Ragnal. He will not lead, lord ; we smote him in the 
fight. 
My brother Rollo struck out both his eyes, {going 
up to door back) 
JiLLEN. Oh, Cuthwolfs eyes ! 

GuRTH. They had me down, too. in the chapel ; but they 
didn't take my eyes. 

JiLLEN. I gave them handfuls of the fairy gold. 
GuRTH. It must be a great thing that gold. 
JiLLEN. Look ! 

(Enter tii'o Danes, leading iti Cuthwolf, zcIw is blinded, 
a bondage about his eyes. He is led forzcard.) 

GoDiVA. (rushing to him) Oh, valiant Saxon; this cruel 

loss for me. 
Cuthwolf. Dear lady, since I hear your voice, I am 

Repaid. .. .tho' the burning pain is hard to bear. 
Wynfreda. (to Edric) It would be vain to torture him 
since he 

Is blind; but she who flouts you. who refused 

You. . . .Ah, you see I've heard it. . . .Make her feel 

A little burning pain. 
Edric. (to Godiva) Tell me at once 

Where he bestowed the gold, whither he went.... 

Leofric ; you understand ; Leof ric. Speak. 
Godiva. Betray a noble man for lure or bribe.... 

Or life? No. Feeble as I am, kind heav'n 

Will give me strength to baffle all the fiends. 
Edric. (fiercely) The fiends! Ragnal. come hither; 

come aside, (takes Ragnal aside — business) 
Wynfreda. (tauntingly to Godiva) The almost novice 
. . . .will remember that 

The love which shifted to her from another, 

May shift back again. 



50 LADY GODIVA. 

(Ragnal exits at back. Edric goes to chair l.) 

GoDiVA. The faithless woman sees 

In all the world only betrayers and betrayed. 
That is her curse, as it is yours. Dear love 
And trust you cannot understand at all. 
You cannot add one pang, one grief to what 
I suffer. 

(Wynfreda turns aside with a haMed, vengeful gesture, 
and goes up to l. 3) 

Edric. (going forzuard to her) Well, / can. .. .You're 
not alone 
In this. Think well. 

(Godiva looks about in terror) 

Some one you do not see. 

(GoDiVA gi-c'cs a little shriek) 

<^ODivA. You would not; could not; he is safe. I heard 

You say, he was not worth your troubling with. 
Edric. (to his guards) Take her back; nor let her stir 
without niy word. 

(The guards take Godiva r. in front) 

■GoDiVA. God's mercy ! no, not that. I dread to name it. 
Edric. Ah, now we're touching to the quick. 

(Enter the Abbess and tzvo nuns at back, the latter carry- 
ing tapers) 

Abbess, (going e. to chair. You sent 

For me, Duke Edric. 
Edric. Stay you there, good mother. 

Wait and see. 
Edric. (going up and calling) Now, Ragnal, come. 

.(Enter at back Danish guards, they part r. and l., and 
shozv a tall masked man in soldier dress, bearing a 
great axe. He goes to r. c, and stands zvith his axe- 
point on the ground) 

E^ADBURGA. (in a horrified ivhisper) Ingulf, the dumb 

headsman. 
Jillen — GuRTH. The headsman ! 



LADY GODIVA. 51 

{Then enter Bertulf chained. He is much feebler. Two 
guards behind him. He halts and looks about. A 
general murmur of compassion. The guards, at a ges- 
ture from Edric, push him to c, abreast of the heads- 
man. GoDiVA, zvho has steeled herself on seeing the 
headsman — gives a lozv, smothered sob zvhen she sees 
Bertulf. She acts as if about to spring forzvard, the 
guards hold her back. She falls on her knees and bozvs 
dozvn, her shoulders heaz'ing. The stage is dressed so 
that there is a line of characters r. and l., and guards 
at the back.) 

Edric. Bertulf, Thegn of Leicester, you stand condemned 
To die for treason to our king, Canute. 

Bertulf. Is the king here? 

Edric. The king is not here, hut one 

Who, with a word can save you, Thegn. Look 'round! 

Bertulf. 1 see the Holy Abbess, Edelgitha. 

Edric. Look again. 

Bertulf. I see Thegn Alstane's daughter. 

The Lady Wynfreda. 

(Wynfreda turns her back) 

Edric. Again ! Again ! 

Look well. 

Bertulf. I see my swineherd and two women thralls. 

Who is it that can save me? What girl is 
Crying? 

GoDiVA. (rising) I. . . . father .... L ... ( breaking from 
the guards) Your child. .. .Godiva. (clinging to 
him) 

Bertulf. My old head swims. I cannot well see for tears. 
How you came here, I do not know. Tell me. 
Who can save me. 

Edric. Tell him.... tell him. 

GoDiVA. (separating from Bertulf) L .. .cannot. .. . 

Edric. Well, then, I shall. 

Godiva. (to Edric) No, no; you shall not; you 

Shall not ; you shall not put this devil's choice 
On me.... on a child.... a daughter. .. .on the old 
Man's child. . . .it's infamy. 
(to the Abbess) Mother, mother, he 
Must not. If there's a curse in Heaven, call 
It down on him. He'd have rne betray England, 
Saxon England. .. .the hope, the agony 
Of our suffering England. .. .that to a child 
To save her father's life. 

Edric. Not England, but 

The Lord Leofric. 



52 LADY GODIVA. 

GoDiVA. I tell yon it is 

England against the Dane, against the traitor 

Saxon. . . .who is worse than Dane. . . .who is devil 

And brute, not man. Oh God ! Oh God ! 
Edric. It is 

The Lord Leofric, your lover against 

Your father. 
Bertulf. (zvcakly) The Lord Leofric, I do 

Not understand. 
Edric. Why, she was with him 

Upon Bardon Hill last night; warned him; lit 

The signal fire for him when he had fled. 

She knows his plans, his hiding place. If she 

Refuse to tell it, you shall die. 
Bertulf. {confused and weakly) Is this 

True, Godiva ? 
GoDiVA. They took me prisoner, there. 

I lit the flame; yes, I lit the flame; yes, 

I warned him. . . .But. . . .What more. . . .1 will not 
say. 

Father, it is for them, not me to do.... 

For this base coward. .. .torturing a woman 

And an old, old man. . . .when if he were true. . . . 

If this vile, wriggling traitor were but true 

To anything, he should be facing Lord 

Leofric for the mastery of England. 
Bertulf. {pleading childishly) But you will save me, 
Godiva. you will 

Save me? 
Godiva. Father, dearest father, as you.... 

Love me ; as I. . . .love you ; so. . . we love England. . . 

Do we not? You would not have me sell my faith?. .. 

Not for my life, would you? 
Bertulf. {tapping her hand childishly) 1 know you love 
me. 

I am very faint ; they made me march all night 

Afoot, but you will save me. 
Godiva. I can die 

With you, father, {bending her head over his hands) 
Bertulf. No, not you, Godiva ! 

Better me than you. Surely Lord Edric 

Would not do that? 
Edric. (l.) You hear the old man's prayer. 

Answer! Your lover or your father? Answer! 

Godiva. {zi'az'ering) Or my father? (turns and 

looks at Bertulf, clings to hint) 

Ah ! (sniootJiing Bertulf's hair) I cannot see you 
die. 



LADY GODIVA. 53 

It is too much ; it is too much. ( disengaging herself 
gently from Bertulf and taking a feeble step 
toicard Edric. /;/ an utterly zceak and broken man- 
ner, passing her fingers through each other) 

Well, then 

If I must tell.... if it is forced from me.... 
Edric. (bending tozcard her coaxingly) Ay, lady? ay. 

lady? 
GoDiVA. The lord. . . . 

Wynfreda. {in a ringing, bitter laugh) Ha! Ha! Ha! 

She cannot piece his name together. 
GoDiVA. (suddenly straigJitetiing and with all her force) 
No! (in lower intense tone after a pause) 
I cannot: God help me; no; I cannot, (drops on 
tier knee and bows her head) 
Edric. (ivho has turned angrily at Wynfreda's laugh and 
speech and then at Godiva's "No" turns sharply 
and ferociously to Godiva, listens in rage to the 
succeeding line and reaching forzvard grasps her 
arm and pulls her to her feet) You shall not slip 
away from it. Go on ! 

Godiva. (zcaz'ing him azvay zvith a gesture and then 

as if grasping after her thoughts) What was I 
about to say? What infamy? (speaking in cold, 
hollozv tone, as if to herself at first) 
There's something cold as ice within my breast : 
Hot iron's burning in my brain ; my blood 
Is hammering in my temples : My voice 

Chokes in my throat (as if struggling to speak) 

I want to say .... I want 
To say that the call of the Saxon race; 
That England's call is louder than the call 
Of blood.... the heavens are calling it above 
The cry of mother, brother, father. 
Bertulf. (despairing) Ah! 

Edric. (saz'agelv) It's the voice of Leofric that you hear. 
Godiva. (zcith azv'ful intensity) If Leofric's voice is the 
voice of England. 
I must answer to it. 
Edric. She has spoken. 

Take him away ; he dies : set the headsman's block 
By the eastern gate, and wait her coming. 
She has condemned him. 
Godiva. But he has done naught. 

Edric. Yes, treason, like yours, to the King Canute! 
Godiva. The King! I would ask the King for his life : 
I'd beg it on my knees ; but not of you. 
Monster ! 



54 LADY GODIVA. 

Edric. {pointing to Bertulf) Away! 
Bertulf. I know she loves me.... I 

Know she loves me. 

(Exit zvitli guards) 

(The headsman lifts his ax, points after Bertulf. Edric 
nods. The headsman turns grimly and follows off r.) 

(GoDiVA shudders through her whole frame, steals a swift 
horrified glances after her father, staggers and stands 
speechless, swaying with emotion) 

Edric. {having ivatched Bertulf off, goes up l. ^3; table, 
and striking his palm on the coffer, zvhile scowling 
at Godiva) Now, by St. Edmund, for you. 
Abbess. Touch that not, 

My lord, for in that coffer there is something 
Fatal to pride and pow'r. . . .a winding sheet. 
A shroud. 
Edric. {taking his hand aivay fearfully) Fables for chil- 
dren! {zvitli renezced szvaggery) She is 
Her father's murdress ; hale her forth, pinion her 
Upon a horse and. ... {looking about) with this 

blinded thrall, 
To lead her. .. .take her to die with Bertulf. 

{All the zconicn cry out) 

.Abbess. Not, lord, to die unshriven ? Nay, as she 

Is noble, let a mantle hide these rags. 

It may clothe you, some little, lord, when you 

Are called to die. 
Edric. {going forzvard l.) No! {then smiling cun- 
ningly) Well, a scant half-hour. 

For her confessing ; send her a priest, mother. 

(The Abbess zvhispers to the nuns, who take the tapers 
and exeunt at back, preceding her. Godiva sobs. 
Edric goes up stage and signals to guards zvho exeunt. 
Jillen and Eadburga zveeping go forzvard each side 
of Godiva and kneel at her feet, facing up stage. 

Eadburga. Take courage, lady.... we pray.... we pray 
for you. 

(CuTHwoLF, led by little Alfred, gropes his zvay forzvard 
to her) 

Cuthwolf. Lady, lady, would I could die to save you. 

(Godiva, zvho has been looking at the tzvo zvomen, turns 
at his voice) 



LADY GODIVA. ^ 

GoDiVA. Cuthwolf. {gives him her hand, which he grasps 

and kisses) 
Edric. (eoming down impatient and standing by table l.) 
Now, varlets, leave her with your whines 
And groans. . . . 

(The two w'omen rise and go up, their heads bowed, weep- 
ing. Cuthwolf, led by Alfred, follozvs. They exeunt 

R.) 

Edric. (going close to Godiva) You still have time: you 
still can save your father.... 
And yourself. I swear your stubborn soul has won 
Me more than pray'rs or pleading would. Why lose 
Yourself for this lost cause, for this Leofric, 
This vain boy, while I, a man who conquers, and 
Who rules, would put you next the throne? 

Godiva. (dazed, as not understanding) I.... can 

Say. . . .nothing, (shudders) 

(Enter the tn'o nuns at back bearing a mantle, Dunstan 
enters with them) 

Edric. (sees Dunstan) Think of it: you yet have time. 

(Tlie nuns go forward, place the mantle on table l, in 
front and return to go off. Edric goes up, points to 
Godiva ) 

Dunstan. (going forzcard — touches Godiva gently on the 
shoulder) Kneel, daughter. 

(Godiva kneels mechanically) 

Pray to Him whose heart is love, 
(Godiva turns her head and recognises him in a dazed,. 

zi'ondering zvay. Dunstan bends over her) 
Dunstan. (in lozv tone to her) Gain time; trust in St. 
Michael the Archangel. 

Help is at hand through Michael the Archangel. 

(aloud to Edric) Lord Duke; the lady begs a mo- 
ment's grace 
For silent pray'r. She should be left alone..,. 
A little time to bring her mind to calm.... 
I'll v/ait nearby, (goes slowly up to door at back 
opens it, looks szuiftly back at Edric, and exits 
quickly going l.) 
Edric. (l. 2.) Then, lady, let reflection 

Come with pray'r. 
(Is about to go out at back. Enter Ragnal r., hurriedly) 
Ragnal. My lord, there's evil news. . . .the gold. 



56 LADY GODIVA. 

Edric. What news? 

Ragnal. They call for orders, lord. 

Edric. Evil ? 

{Casting a look at Godiva, turns impatiently and exits at 
back zvith Ragnal. Godiva, wJw has started at Rag- 
nal's abrupt call, turns slozvly around and sees that 
all are gone. She passes her hand across her face) 

GoDiVA. Ah, it's unreal.... He stood there, so old. 

And gray, and said "You'll save me?" Pray! Oh 

pray ! 
Can the murdress of her father pray? They're*right. 
The Murdress ! Thro' the whole convent "murdress" 

rings 
In my ears. (pausing) "Gain time." Where did 

those words come from? 
Dunstan, Dunstan said that "Trust in St. Michael" — 

(looking at the window l.) 
The angel with the sword. No, let me turn 
To the Mother of Sorrows here, (going r. before the 

Virgin's statue and dropping to her knees) O 

Mother 
Of breaking hearts, pity me, pity me. 

(A sound of broken glass — the windozv l. opens and 
Leofric appears, szvord in hand. Godiva starts to her 
feet. Leofric steps down on the table and by the stool 
to the stage) 

GoDiVA. Leofric! (springs to Jiis arms) Leofric! (tJiey 
embrace) How 

Came you here? Have you scattered Edric's Danes? 
Leofric. We pounced on the treasure-escort ; routed them. 
GoDiVA. Yes, yes? Then? 
Leofric. Then the gold did its fatal work. 

Some slew each other for a share, and some 

Marched off their men in anger. With what few 

T could recall I rode this w^ay. 
-GoDiVA. (anxiously) Well? Well? 

Leofric. Word came that they had taken you, and so 

With six brave Saxon thegns, all sw^orn to me, 

I've come to save you. 

(GoDiVA recoils from him.) 

•GoDiVA. Me ? Me ? 

Leofric. It's perilous. . . . 

By the cornice to the belfry tow'r, but 
You can brave it.... good Dunstan showed the way 
To save you. 



LADY GODIVA. 57 

GoDiVA. Me? Me? No! My father! He 

Is taken out to die. You must save him. .. . 
Not me. Saving me. would make death sure for him. 

Leofkic. Your father? 

GoDiVA. (ill piteous tones) I let them take him out to die, 
When one small word of treachery to you 
Had saved him. Now, his life is mine, is yours. 
Go ! save him ! 

Leofric. Canute, the King, is marching hither 

With an army. We are not strong enough 
To make attack, but. I can save you. 

GoDiVA. {strongly) Save 

My father. Edric is the tyrant. At the worst, 
Leofric, fight your way to the king, and cry 
For justice. Go! Go to the eastern gate. 
Where thev have set the headsman's block. Delay 
Not: go!' 

Leofric. But you, Godiva, you, love? 

Not without you. .. .'twere base: 'twere shameful. 

GoDiVA. {snotcliing his dagger from Jiis belt) Go! 

Leofric. What would you do? 

GoDiVA. (recoiling) Die, unless you go: so go. 
The hero-mark is his who hurries to 
His task across his breaking heart. Your task 
Is sword in hand beside my father, there 
Amid his enemies. (Jie stands irresolute) Must 1 

pray you 
On my knees, Leofric? Or must I die 
To stir you to your task? 

Leofric. (zuith. sudden resolve) I'll go; he shall 
Not die! 

GoDiVA. {springing to him and kissing him quickly) O 
brave Leofric ! I shall be safe. 
Fear not for me! (putting dagger in her girdle) 

Leofric. (springing from stool to table) Farewell ! fare- 
well ! (springing from table to zvindon', Godiva 
steps to table) He shall 
Not die! (disappears) 

{Enter Edric r.) 

Godiva. (closing the zcindon') O brave Leofric! 
Edric. (going quickly forzi'ard) The rebel? 

(Godiva takes up the mantle.) 

Godiva. The archangel ! 

Edric. (r. in front) Was it Leofric? By 

That window^? By all the devils ( rushing across) 

Godiva. Beware ! 



58 LADY GODIVA. 

(Edric puts one foot on stool — Godiva flings the mantle 
over him — pushes him back: he staggers and falls 
backivard. Godiva steps to the Ho or, and as he strug- 
gles to free himself, she stands above him, dagger in 
hand.) 

Edric. Hiiscarles ! Ragnal ! 

{Enter quickly Omnes, Ragnal from back. Guards from 
R. Guards from back. The Abbess and the Nuns 
from back. Jillen, Eadburga, Gurth, Cuthwolf, 
and little Alfred leading him.) 

Edric. (rising) Seize her! 

(Ragnal and a soldier grasp Godiva and drag her r. in 
front.) 

Did you not see a Saxon knave escaping 

From that window ? 
Ragnal. No, lord ; we heard your cry 

For help, and she. . . . 
Edric. (mad with rage) Away with her, pinioned 

Upon a horse. 

(The Abbess has gone by table r. The nuns take up the 
mantle and X zvith it to Godiva.) 

Edric. (snatching the mantle) No, not a rag. (zvith a 
sudden diabolical laugh) Not death (Hinging 
dozvn the mantle) 
Alone but shame. Bare as her soul will go 
Before its Maker. .. .shall she ride to death. 
Refuse, and the convent burns to ashes. 

(Godiva shudders, totters and almost falls.) 

All the Women. Mercy, lord ! Mercy. 
Abbess. Mercy, mercy, lord I 

Edric. The mercy that she showed her aged father ! 
Abbess. Such shame upon a woman, lord, is shame 

Upon yourself. 
Edric. I swear it by the Cross ! 

That he or she who puts on her a garment 

Made for living man or woman, dies ! 
Abbess, (rising — zvith zveird meaning) For 

Living man or woman? Is that the fixed 

Unalterable term of your oath, my lord ? 
Edric. It is my oath. 

(The Abbess Xs. to the coffer l. Godiva shrieks and falls. 
Cries of compassion, grief and horror. Sudden and 
entire darkness on the stage.) 



LADY GODIVA. 5d 

The Abbess, (heard calling in the darkness) Not for the 
living. Not for the Hving. 
Woven for the dead ; a winding sheet ! 
A winding sheet ! 

(The groans and murmurs die out. During the making 
of the dark change, music symbolical of the preceding 
scene gradually dying out. Then, suddenly, a peal of 
bells, and follozcijig it lively music played, piano at 
first, then louder, as the voice of the gleeman is heard 
singing to the harp accompaniment.) 

Merry and light in Coventry town, 

We dance at the Michelmas fair : 

We'll drink brown ale till the sun goes down, 

And we'll sing to the devil with care. 

(Before this quatrain is finished, lights up shozving) 



Scene 2. — The Market Square in Coventry. It must be 
set wide so as to stand outside the sides and backing of 
the previous scene. On the r. a large stone house 
pierced by an arch at i extends up stage. A rozv of 
houses and shops at back. A church on the l. The 
setting is for three sides of a square, zvith a street enter- 
ing through a lofty arch at r. 4, another street at l. 2. .. . 
and an entrance through the arch R. i. At v.. 2 just above 
the arch, a stone horse-block zvith tzvo steps. It is noon. 

Discovered. — A crozvd of citizens reproducing a mediceval 
fair — peddlers, vendors of odds and ends, etc., etc., noise 
and merriment. Rusty Runnion standing on the stone 
horse block is singing and capering. Seated on the lozver 
step is the harper playing. A number of young men and 
zvomen are dancing an4 singing the repetition of the 
gleeman's verse. This kept up for a half a minute. 

(Enter by arch r. i. Eadburga. Jillen and Gurth, de- 
jected. They look behind them and X l.) 

Runnion. (recogni.zing Jillen, jumps from his block 
and Xs. to her) Well, goose-girl, are you Mistress Swine- 
herd, or are you still kissable? 

(The dancing ceases. The group of three turn tozvard him 
reproachfully) 

What, married, and in trouble already; take a leaf from- 
my book. To the devil with care ; come, dance as you did 
yesterday for your Lady Godiva. 



60 LADY GODIVA. 

GuRTH. Don't you know, fool, that they are taking the 
Lady Godiva out to die. 

{The dozv tolling of a large bell begins) 

RuNNiON. The passing bell! 

The People. The passing bell ! the passing bell ! 
(Enter Ragnal r. at bark with tzvo guards. Enter Dun- 
STAN R. I by arch.) 

Ragnal. (c. at back) By Edric, Duke of Mercia. sen- 
tence of death 

Has been decreed on Bertulf. Thegn of Leicester. 

And on his daughter, Godiva. for treason 

To the king, {murmurs and cries) And further, that 
all may learn 

To loathe her ci ime, and look in scorn upon {the bell 
tolls) 

The criminal, the Lady Godiva, will be taken through 

The Market place : Long live the 

King! {turns and exits with guards.) 

(Commotion and questioning — Jillen and Eadburga and 
GuRTH are seen l., explaining pitvinglv to the people. 
The bell tolls.) 

Dunstan. (pushing thro' the crowd) He has not told 
you all. The lady is 
Condemned to pass this way to death unclad. .. . 
Worse to the trembling maid than death itself, 

{The bell tolls — murmurs from the people.) 

In the name of the angels of purity, 

Kneel, then, and pray Heaven's pity to enfold her, 

{strongly) And let none, as you hope for mercy, 

look 
Upon her. 

{Murmurs of compassion.) 

GuRTH. Kneel ! Kneel ! 

(The bell tolls. All kneel with bozvcd heads along line, 
from R. 4 to l. 2. Enter Edric r. i, he Xs. l. and 
turns.) 

Edric. No pray'rs ; no kneeling pray'rs for such as she. 
Stand up and gaze. 

(The people rise and turn angry faces on Edric.) 



LADY GODIVA. 61 

DuNSTAN. {holding up crucifix) On all who heap dark 

shame 
Upon this martyr'd maid, the Lord will lay 
A heavy hand. For sin like that, saith the Lord, (the 

bell tolls) 
Thou shalt be cursed ; yea, He shall smite thee blind. 

(advancing to Edric and holding up crucifix) 
And thou shalt perish, and no man can save thee. 
(turning to croivd) Kneel. (the hell tolls. The 

people kneel zvith pitying cries, 
(to Edric) Kneel. (Edric turns azvay in anger) 
(DuNSTAN advances closer to Edric) Kneel, and if 

thou hast no nlerc3^ pray ! 

(Edric looks at the cross, cowers and crouches facing 
front, but does not kneel. The bell tolls.) 

(A prolonged lamenting cry of women and men, off stage 
R. at back. It is taken up by those kneeling on the 
stage in moans and pitying cries, as enter slozvly R. 4 
Danish guards, two and tzvo with reversed spears, at 
wide intervals. Thvn tzvo nuns zvith lighted tapers. 
Then the Abbess zcalking alone. Then Godiva on a 
horse, zvhich is led by Cut h wolf at the bridle, little 
Alfred leading Cuthwolf. Godiva's shoulders and 
arms are bare; around her body, from under the arm- 
pits, she is szvathed zvith the zveb, zvhich also cnzvraps 
her limbs, as far as the knees, as she sits side-saddle 
on the horse, her right foot in the stirrup or drazvn 
backzvard from it. Her arms are pinioned behind her. 
Her hair streams dozvn her back. She gazes upzvard 
in pain and pleading. The bell tolls. Tzvo nuns follozv 
her. The little procession passes slozvly off l. 2. Dun- 
STAN, zvho has held his posture by Edric, turns azvay 
from him as Godiva disappears. Edric seeing Dun- 
STAN turn azvay, stands erect. A trumpet sounds off 
r. The people rise slozvly and turn to each other. 
DuNSTAN turns apain to Edric. zvJw smarting and 
angry Xs to c as enter Ragnal r. i.) 

Ragnal. King Canute's army is without the town 

The King himself is coming hither. 
Edric. See him 

Attended, (going zvith Ragnal r.) This is great 

news : he'll see how I 
Can deal with traitors, (the bell tolls) Soft! Silence 
that bell ! 

(Exit Ragnal r. i) 



■^2 LADY GODIVA. 

(going L. c. to the people) Make merry: the king is 
here ! 
DuNSTAN. The King! The King! 

(TJie people follozv Dunstan off l.) 

(Edric goes forzvard angrily looking off r. i as enter 
Canute, ivith Thorold and Ragnal r. i.) 

Edric. (kneeling) Most mighty king and overlord, your 

servant ! . 

Canute. Rise! What mean these funeral bells? 
Edric. They ring the death 

Of traitors, liege. 
Canute. They say a woman's taken 

Out to die. Do we war on women, lord? 
Edric. She — the Lady Godiva — took large share 

In this revolt that's led by Lord Leofric. 
Canute. The Lady Godiva. And he, Leofric? 
Edric. Still to be taken. 
Canute, (angrily.) Ha! 

(Cries of the erozud heard off l. as in a distant cheer.) 

Ragnal. (going up and looking off l.) Some tumult, lord. 

(Cries and shouts coming nearer.) 

Edric. Call out your carles, and put the tumult down. 

Ragnal. A rescue ! 

(Cries of "To the king! To the king!" Jieard off. Danish 

soldiers enter b. i.) 
Edric. Guard the king! (The soldiers form in front of 

Canute. Enter Dunstan l.) 
Dunstan. (as addressing those off.) To the king! The 
King is here ! 

(The people rush on from l. and X to r. and turn, looking 
back.' Jillen delighted, clapping her hands. Enter 
Leofric and six Saxon nobles, fighting zvith the Danish 
guards and driving them before them. They are ranged 
in a semi-circle enclosing the horse, zvhich is nozv led 
by GuRTH. Godiva is nozv completely covered by a 
scarlet mantle, her hands unpinioned. Bertulf is by 
the side of the horse. Cuthwolf zvith little Alfred on 
his shoulder follozvs. As they reach the c. of stage) 

Leofric. The King! The King! 

Canute. (mounting the stone block.) I am the King, 

Canute. 
Edric. (zvith savage joy—recognising him) Leofric! 
Leofric. Justice! Justice! lord king! 



LADY GODIVA. 63 

(Throzving dozvn his szvord. All the Saxons throzv dozen 

their szcords. 
Canute, (recoguiciiig Gobiva) Is that The Lady Godiva. 
Edric. Yes ! 

Canute. Your pray'r, lady? 

Godiva Mercy for my father, (pointing to Edric) justice 
upon him ! 

TABLEAU AND CURTAIN. 



64 LADY GODIVA. 



ACT IV. 



Scene. — The Hall of Edric's Castle. The set is to give 
the idea of a noble hall of the period — zvainscoted in 
dark oak, which is ornamented zvith heraldic shields. 
Hung around the zvalls are shields, spears, armor, swords 
and trophies of war and chase: heavy , oak-beamed ceiling. 
Across the entire zvidth of the scene at back a tapestry 
curtain ornamented zvith crude tapestry figures in dull 
colors; it is to be practical so as to admit of being drawn 
back for three feet on each side of the center, h is hung 
about three feet belozv line of ceiling, giving the idea of 
dividing the hall into tzvo parts. The heavy oak ceiling 
beams seem to continue beyond it. Back of the curtain 
a backing representing the continuation of the Hall. A 
lozv, single step dais r. in front against zvall. On it a 
chair or throne. Beside the dais a small tabic covered 
by a red cloth trimmed zvith gold lace. On the table a 
gong and mallet. Entrance is given at l. 2 by curtained 
door at top of a stair of five steps zvith small lobby at 
the top and balustraded in kerping zvith the rest of the 
room — also by curtained door r. 2 and by curtain at back. 
H is lighted by deep-embrasured zviudozvs. Time, after- 
noon. 

Discovered. — Edric before the throne. He zvears robes of 
state. His brozvs are knitted. The curtains at back are 
drazvn apart. He turns sharply at the sound. 

(Enter Ragnal at back.) 

Ragnal. — It is as yon have ordered, lord. The Danes of 
yonr gnard await withont. {indicating back 
and l) 
Edric. Then, it is as 

Canute has ordered. Leofric, that rash fool, will feel 

My vengeance through their biting swords. 
R.A(,NAL. I feared 

When the king withdrew upon their plea for justice, 

That he leaned to mercy. 
Edric. I did not. Kings 

Must be humored. He would have't appear that he 

Held council ere he struck. 
Ragnal. Ay, lord, but when 

The Abbess told him how you shamed the lady. . . . 

He was hot in anger. 



LADY GODIVA. 65 

Edric. Bah ! Kings are short 

Of memory for others' troubles. Justice, 
That word for jugglers, stands with them as't does 
With us, for what adds most to their account. 

Ragnal. The king cried "She'll have justice." 

Edric. Does this look 

As though he meant her mercy? There's a thing 
Called justice taught by schoolmen and. . . at times. . . 
By priests in which a wise old owl holds up 
A scales, to weigh the deed against the motive. 
But mostly. . . in this miserable world. . . 
Interest with sly finger tips the beam. 
And then the owl cries justice. Now, for the king, 
I have that coming which will blind his eyes ; 
To all these small appeals. Send to the tow'r (point- 
ing npivard) 
And when our Oswald's horse appears above 
The hill, come quickly to me. 

Ragnal. Ay, my lord. 

(Exits R. Enter Thorold hastily by stair) 

Thorold. Lord Duke, the king is coming. 

Edric. And welcome, lord. 

Thorold. {looking ozrr his shoulder and then quickly) 

Mark this ; You sent a letter hinting some 

Dark way to kill King Edmund Ironsides. 
Edric. (zvith elation.) He read my letter? 
Thorold. He wished to stop your plot 

And gave such orders for your messenger. 

If he would kill that king, he'd do't in battle. 

I have no squeamishness like that, so took 

The only way to stop your henchman's mouth. 
Edric. Yes, yes. . . a henchman more or less, what mat- 
ter? 
Thorold. Canute is still of qualmish mind, so keep 

Him busy, with these rebels, and avoid 

The subject of your letter. He'd see this young 

Godiva first ; relent to her if he 

Relents. 
Edric. Godiva . . . no ! nor Lord Leofric. 

For them (enter Canute ^3; stair l.) the justice of 
the Dane. 
Canute, (coming forivard.) And what, 

Duke Edric, is the justice of the Dane? 
Edric. Why, liege, a loyal sword at rebel throats. 
Canute. H'm! . . . Thorold, call the guard. 
Thorold. (going up) Ho there, the guard t 

(Enter the Danish guards, they pass doivn l. in single Uley 



66 LADY GODIVA. 

Canute. Swords! (the guards draw their swords) 
All loyal Danes, and quick to strike at my 
Command? (they make a cutting szveep zvith their 
swords.) Stand watchful in the guardroom. 
When 
I strike upon this bell, come forth and range 
Behind that curtain, which will be close drawn. 
And at the second stroke come forth and slay. 
Or do my bidding on, the man. . . . 
Edric. Or woman 

Canute. Who stands there, (pointing to a spot on the 
floor about c.) Now go. 

{The guards exeunt at back zvith Thorold directing them. 
The curtain is drazvn to) 

(to Edric.) Does this give promise of 

The justice of the Dane? 
Edric. Exact and full, 

My liege. 
Canute. Thorold, bring Lady Godiva here. 

(Exit Thorold up stair.) 

Edric. She was a very tigress of revolt, 

And turned on me. . . on me, and threw a cloak 
Upon my head, and with a buffet knocked 
Me down. Then. . . . 

Canute, (laughing.) You? knocked you? Upon my 
soul, 
She is a girl of rare activities. 

(Gravely.) And so, Duke Edric, this is why you 
shamed her? 

Edric. And cause enough. 

Canute. I would see her alone. 

(Enter Thorold l.) 

Thorold. She is coming, sire. 

Edric. I will be gone, liege, (salutes and exits R.) 
Canute, (to Thorold, zvho has xd to him. At the first 
stroke bring the other prisoners in. 
(Lozv voice.) You'll find. . . perhaps, someone by the 

curtain there. 
Take him away. 
'(Canute goes forzvard. Thorold goes quickly to Cur- 
tain R. ) 
Thorold. (raising curtain.) Lord Edric! 
Edric. (appearing an instant.) L . . . waited you, 
Jarl Thorold. 

(Exeunt.) 
L.of C. 



LADY GODIVA. 67 

(Canute — facing front — smiles. Enter Godiva by the stair, 
mournful, dejected, zvatchful) 

Canute. And now. . . perhaps. . . the justice of the Dane. 

(Godiva descends. Canute's manner through the scene 
that follozvs is one of serious banter) 

Well, lady, we meet again. 

Godiva absorbed in her pleading and in the gravity of her 
position is ahvays serious) 

Godiva. {kneeling to him.) Sire! 
Canute. Rise up. 

Godiva. First, let me pray my aged father's life. 
Canute. True, you look comely, kneeling there. 

(Godiva witJi an angry start rises) but still 

I'd have you stand. . .if you'd make pray'r to me. . . 

(In anszi'er to an enquiring look.) You are more on 
level with my eyes. 
Godiva. My father's life, sire ! 
Canute, (zvith mock severity.) Yes: we'll come to that. 

Your father's nigh the term of mortal days. 
Godiva. Oh. sire, you wrmg my very heart to say't. 
Canute. Well, he is past three-score: we cannot live 

Forever. 
Godiva. Indeed. I've heard my father say 

His father lived to eighty years. 'Tis hard 

And cruel that the fewness of the years 

Still left to him should anywise be held 

To ease my grief at seeing him die now. . . . 
Canute. No king can lengthen any man's last day. 
Godiva. I've made you angry, sire, when I had hoped 

To touch your heart. 
Canute. Lady, it is because 

You cross me. 
Godiva. How. sire? 

Canute. How. sire? There 

is first 

A count to settle between you and me. 

But yesterday I met a girl. ... the sister 

Of a "thrall." who. glibe enough, told me a tale. 

Of running fast from some unfavored lover. 

To wed (upon a hilltop) some one more. . . . 

To her mind. 
QoDivA. 'Twas Cuthwolf. sire, said that. 1 

said: 

"Do not believe him." 



68 LADY GODIVA. 

Canute. Yet said it so that 

I believed, and then by pretty simpers gave 
It confirmation. And yet what do I find? 
You are a noble lady, convent-bred. 
You face a storm that drove myself to shelter. 
You dare the forest path, and on the way 
Deceive your king. For what? To warn your rebel 
Lover not to light a signal-fire, and then 
Direct this rebel how to seize the gold — 
Meant for my treasury, no doubt. These are not 
The doings of a convent-scholar, but 
Of a captain at the head of armies. 
GoDivA. Sire, 

It is not quite that way. You take the tale 
A woman told. 
Canute. Another woman, eh? 

Beware the sins that spring from jealousy! 
Well, that's not all ; once having ordered Lord 
Leofric off to rob the escort, 
GonvA. 'Twas 

My father's gold, stolen. . . 
Canute. Lady, let me 

Go on. Having thus captained it, you lit 
The blaze of treason, so the hills around 
Took flame. And now you come with fluted voice 
To cry me mercy for Leofric and. . . 
Godiva. I have not breathed the Lord Leofric's name. 
Canute. Ah, you would let him die? 
GoDiVA. No, no, sire, no! 

Canute. He was to have his turn, I see. 
GoDiVA. , Yes, sire. 

Canute. Now to your most unforgivable misdeeds. 
For when, it seems, you were condemned to die. 
Your lover, your Leofric, came to you. 
Disguised as an archangel — Fm not quite sure 
On that. . . . but when you'd given him fresh orders, 
You. . . the meek, convent maid! . . . turned swift 

about 
And, clapping a woman's cloak upon a stalwart 
Interruptor's head, fair knocked him down. 
And thumped and beat him. 

(Godiva excited, angered, giz'es speeciiless denial) 

Oh, 'tis true, the marks 
And bruises were loud wailed of by lord. ... 
GoDiVA. {fiercely.) Sire, 

Do not name him. ... do not profane my ears 
By naming him who put such world of shame 
Upon a woman. 



LADY GODIVA. 69 

Canute. Well. I will not name him. 

GoDiVA. You jest, lord king, you mock my misery. 

Canute. I'd see you smile. 

GoDiVA. You've seen the mercy that 

A woman meets in Mercia — ^^and you can smile! 
Lord, there's no laughter this side madness in 
My heart while you withhold the hand of grace. 

Canute. Why should I spare these rebels? Why spare 
you ? 

GoDiVA. For me, I ask you nothing. I have been snatched 
From death that had no terrors left for me. 
But for my father — old and gray — who gave 
Me life, and for the Lord Leofric, who. . . . 
So young and fair and brave and true, lord king; 
And for the young lords with him — brave, clear souls, 
Mercy. Mercy I 

Canute. 1 have not been merciful. 

Godiva. Mercy is twin with love. 

Canute. I am not loved. 

Godiva. There is a love, lord king, a love that you 
Must share, before you bind our Saxon hearts 
To yours — the love of England. 

Canute. You make it seem 

Most fair and welcome, (suddenly.) But you give me 

hate. 
Why this revolt, rebellion? Tell me that. 

Godiva. We only know you through the grasping, 
strangling 
Hand your henchman laid on us. The more he 

clutched 
Our throats, the more he. . . . shamed us. all the more 
That love of Saxon race, of Saxon England 
Became the very lifeblood of our hearts, 
The anointing oil that sanctified our deeds. 
That magic that made heroes out of clods, 
That turned our pains and grief to ecstasy. 
Till Edmund Ironsides, our Saxon king. 
Stripped of the half of his dominion, stood 
Through all our dreary night, the one great star. 

Canute, {aside.) Edmund! I had forgotten. 

(Goes funvard and takes up hammer) 

Edric mu.st 
Be summoned, (about to strike) 
Godiva (tremulously.) Let me not plead in vain, 
Lord king! 



70 LADY GODIVA. 

•^Canute, (aside.) I must not strike; 'twould bring all in. 
{lays dozen hammer) 
(aloud.) Lady, rest here awhile; you've pleaded well! 
And wrought more for your cause than you can dream. 

{Exit R.) 

GouiVA. He smiled in going. I^ it the smile of him 

Who presently will kill. . . . the butcher's smile? 

(shudders.) Horrible! (breaking dozvn.) In vain! 
In vain ! My heart must break. 

I see again my father's pleading eyes. 

I hear once more that awful, clanging bell. 

I see them one by one led forth to die. . . 

The first of them, Leofric ! No; not him. 

Lord-king, not him ! . . . nor him, my father. . . . sire ! 
{looking about in terror) 

This is the demon's house. But in his face . . . 

The face of the king — there was light and promise. 

Ah. he will be merciful ; he bade me smile. 

I have pleaded well. The light is breaking. 

Laughter is bubbling to my lips. . . they're saved I 

I see them safe and free. My father, and 

Leofric I I'll see him on his prancing steed 

Again .... my lord. Come, I have saved you, dears. 

And my heart is light with a great wild hope, (breaks 
into a ringing laugh) 

To live. . . forever happy face to face, (press- 
ing her hands to her bosom) 

But here, in my heart, my joy will burn and sting 

Till love has drowned it with its happy tears, (contin- 
ues in inarticulate sobs l. in front) 

(Enter Canute r. follozvcd by Thorold) 

Thorold. He is not far off: the bell will bring him. 

Canute. I must know. 

Thorold. Nay, end this business first, liege. 

(Goes to the throne and strikes the gong. Godiva l. _c. 
startles — the tramp of feet is heard behind the curtain. 
Godiva turns and looks. The curtain szvings a little 
and she shozcs still greater anxiety. Enter Edric r. 
He looks questioningly at Godiva and as if reassured, 
is about to go forzvard. He carries a large battle axe. 
Enter Ragnal r. He Xs quickly to Edric) 

Ragnal. (pointing upzvard.) They see a horseman coming. 
Edric. Oswald! Quick! 



LADY GODIVA. 71 

(Goes forward to Canute's l. — Exit Ragnal by stair l. 
Thorold holds hack the curtain, as enter Bertulf, 
Leofric, Hundibert and the Ave other Saxon nobles. 
They X to l. and stand there in a group. Canute seats 
himself and takes the hammer in hand. Godiva has 
watched the entrance of the Saxons ivith devoted love. 
She turns, fascinated, to zvatch the gestures of Ca- 
nute) 

Edric. These are the traitors, liege. This gray beard knave 
Is Bertulf, thegn of Leicester, who poured out 
His gold to feed rebellion. 

Canute. Why did you take 

The rebel side? 

Bertulf. (feebly at tirst.) I cannot tell. I was 
Brought into it against my better judgment. 
But since this Edric put such shame upon 
Aly child, my daughter there, I am a rebel, 
In my heart and soul, and cry a curse on him 
And all who've given him pow'r to do such wrong. 

Edric. My liege, he'd veil his treason with his daughter. 
He is guilty, but the head of this revolt, 
Stands there, Leofric, eorl of Chester, liege. 

Canute. Stand forth. Leofric. eorl of Chester. Why 
Are you found in arms against the king? 

(Leofric adz'onccs to c.) 

Leofric. I stand here in your pow'r, lord-king, because 

A miscreant had placed the foulest shame 

Upon a lady of the land. I laid 

My sword down at your feet that I once more 

Might take it up, with your consent to face 

Him in a fight to death. 
Edric. Ha! he. too, takes 

The woman for his shield. He came here as 

A rebel and he shall not shift his ground. 
Leofric. I ask ordeal by combat. . . the ancient law 

Of Dane as well as Saxon. (Edric sneers) 
Canute. If it is 

Refused ? 
Leofric. I'd call on every Saxon man 

For vengeance. (Canute rises. . . the hammer m 
hand) ,,. 

Canute. Who will answer to your call.'' 

Leofric. All Saxon England : some are in arms to-day. 

This crime unpunished will make England whole. 
Canute. But, back of what you so cry out upon. 

Why this revolt against the peace we made? 



72 LADY GODIVA. 

Leofric. This greedy craven, 'twas, lord king, who broke 
The pact, and, under cover of your name. 
Oppressed and pkmdered, burned and slew, till war. 
Though we are weary of it, seemed to be 
Better than a peace with demons such as he. 

Edric. You call me demon, but you rose against 
The king. 

Leofric. We could not see him through the smoke 

Of burning homes you m'ade, but we remembered 
Edmund Ironsides, the Saxon king, and swore 
To struggle while King Edmund lives. 

HUNDIBERT AND THE OtHER SaXONS. Ay, ay, 

While Edmund lives. 

(Canute, who Jias been rising in anger, during the last 
speech, raises his arm) 

Edric. They've spoken ! Strike, liege. 

GoDivA. {rushing across to Canute.) No; no; do not 
strike. I know. . . I know that at 
The stroke a greater crime will follow. Do 
You not see, his greed of blood has lashed 
This fury up. ... I know your better soul. 
Let that proclaim his downfall, not their death. 
And give our bleeding England, peace. 

(Canute gazes long at her.) 
Edric. How, woman, 

Dare you. . . 
Leofric. Stop ! One base word, and in the face 

Of death, I'll strangle you. 
Edric. {to Canute.) Now, now! 

■{Enter the Abbess at head of stair. Godiva still hovers 
near Canute zvith upraised, hand, that he may not 
strike the bell. Canute sees the Abbess ; his hand 
falls by his side. Edric folloivs the glance and starts. 
The Abbess comes dozvn the stair) 

Abbess, {to Edric.) Oswald, your henchman, lies dying 
in the street. 

Riding madly in. . . . 
Edric. {eagerly.) Yes, yes? 

Abbess. His horse was thrown 

Before the Convent gate. He gave me this 

For you {holding up a ring) 
Edric. {recognizing it.) The signet ring! The signet 



rmg 



.Abbess. And gasped out, "Tell Lord Edric I rode hard 
And that King Edmund Ironside is dead." 



LADY GODIVA. , 73 

The Saxons. Dead? 

(Breaking into a babel of hoarse eries: "It is not true." 
It's false." "It cannot be." "Not dead," and gather in a 
group L. 2. The hammer drops from Canute's hand, 
he frozvns on Edric, turns reproachfully to Thorold. 
Edric cannot contain his joy. Godiva stands near 
throne as if petrified) 

Canute, (distressed.) What more? 

Abbess. All he could say 

was "king found slain." 
Canute. The Lord have mercy on a brave man's soul ! 

(All but Canute, Edric and Thorold kneel, those who 
kneel crying "Amen.") 

Edric. (to the Abbess.) The ring! 

(The Abbess kneeling l. 2 extends her hand) 

Thorold. King Edmund's sig- 

net ! That is for 
The king. 

(Taking ring and handing it to Canute. All kneeling 
raise their heads without rising) 

Edric. (smothering his wroth.) The king of all England! 
Hail! Hail! 

Canute. May Edmund's noble spirit enter in 
My heart, as here I place his ring upon 
My finger. Strong and fearless spirit, touched 
With death a moment, he will live again 
Wliile brave men breathe. Blotting the past with all 
Its tales of blood on either side, he held 
The pact of peace. . . . my royal brother. Peace. 
To him ! (sits on throne) 

Edric. A truce, lord king, to mourning. We 

Have still a score to settle here. 

(All rise. Godiva, trembling zvith alarm, zvatches this 
scene, crouching by the dais) 

Canute, (angry at the interruption.) What score, 

Lord Edric? 
Edric. Justice due these traitors ; death 

To this chief of traitors ; death to that woman 

Traitor, mocking at me there. 
Canute. Then, it is you 

Who sit in judgment here? 
Edric. My liege, they're judged, 

And I demand their death. 



74 LADY GODIVA. 

Canute. Demand? 

Edric. If I 

Had not been quick to serve your cause, all Mercia 

Would be flaming at his call. 
Canute. He leads, then. 

Through all Mercia? 
Edric. Ay, he had but to lift 

His hand and every rebel grasped his sword. 
Canute. And you demand? 
Edric. A traitor's death for him ; 

For her. 
Canute. No other course? 

Edric. (losing Jiis self-control.) What other course? 

It is deserved ; but if 'twere not, I have 

Deserved from you this sign of trust in me. 
Canute, (rising.) I do not grasp you quite. 
Edric. Service that was great 

At Assandune. . . 
The Saxons, (in rage and threateningly.) Ah! 
Edric. Service in the pact 

Of Olney. 
Canute. Well? 

Edric. And service now that makes 

You King of England as you stand to-day. 

(A cry of smothered horror from all) 

Canute, (leaving throne, Xing to l. i.) If 'tis you take 
upon yourself the deed 

That makes me king, beware! Is't so? 
Edric. (pointing to Thorold.) He knows. 

Thorold. He lies. 

Edric. (c.) What, face me down! (to Canute, in white 
rage.) Next you will put 

This traitor in my place; in mine who made 

You king. 
Canute. You've set the term. You are no longer 

Duke or lord in Mercia. 
Edric. Degraded. Ha ! 

Then if I made, I can unmake as well. 

Death to the Dane ! 

(Swings his axe as if about to crush the king. Godiva, 
7vho has watched this scene breathlessly, seises the 
fallen hammer at the words "I can unmake as zvell," 
and strikes the gong as Edric raises the axe. The 
curtain at back parts suddenly. The soldiers zvith 
lifted swords spring forward in a semi-circle back of 
Edric) 



LADY GODIVA. 75. 

Canute, (raising his hand) Not here! By the city gate;. 
his body to 
The dogs ! 
(Edric, whose arms have been sei::ed, is about to speak') 
Thorold. Away with him ! 

EdPvIC. (the soldiers forcing hint oif.) I made you king. 

{Thorold follows them off. Canute Xs to throne. The 
Saxons come forzvard and kneel to him l. and l. c.) 

Leofric. Lord-king, yon have done justice as we prayed. 
Canute. 'Twas justice twixt the Hving and the dead. 

But there's another justice to be done, (to Godiva, 
raising her) 

Lady, 'tis not an hour since you craved mercy 

For these lords. Now I. who am your debtor 

For my Hfe, perhaps, here put their lives in your 

Fair hands. 
GoDiVA. Lord ! liege lord ! their Jives ! 

Canute. Saxons, 

mark this : 

If through this tangle of the fates, it comes 

That I'm all England's king, I am resolved 

To be the king of English hearts as well. 

Back to your homes and sheathe your swords. You 
know 

I can be Norseman of the Norse in war ; 

Now learn how I shall vie with Alfred's fame 

To lead our England in the path of peace. 
Bertulf. My liege, my sovereign liege ! 
Canute. Rise, Saxons ! 

The Saxons, (rising.) Canute.'' 

Canute! Hail! Hail! 
Canute. For you, Leofric, eorl 

Oi Chester, I shall think on Edric's counsel. 

Mercia may need its Saxon leader soon, (going up} 
Leofric. (kneeling again.) Sire! Sire! 

(Enter Dunstan, followed by Gurth and Jillen r.) 
Dunstan. Liege and king ! 

GoDiVA. (turning at his voice and going quickly to him.} 
Oh, Father Dunstan, come 

And pray a blessing on the king; he sets 

Us free ; 

(bringing him forzvard.) He knows the Lord Leofric 
for 

A man to love, a man to lead, he. . . 
Canute, (smiling.) Lady, 

The priest, perhaps, has something for himself 

To sav. 



76 LADY GODIVA. 

GoDiVA. {abashed.) Oh, sire! (she joins Bertulf) 
DuNSTAN. The people, mad with joy 

At Edric's fall, would pray you show yourself. 
Canute. I go, but stay you here, resourceful priest. 

Someone who knows Leofric as a man 

To love (turning to Godiva) and lead, I think you 
said, (to Dunstan) may need 

Your ministration. 
Godiva. My father, sire, grows 

More himself at every breath ; he will not need 

The priest. 
Canute. The Lord Leofric and. . . . your father's 

Daughter may? 

(Dunstan stands l. 3.) 

Godiva. Oh, sire ! 

Canute. Come, Saxon lords, with me. 

(Exit R.) 

The Saxons, (follozving him off.) Hail! Hail! Hail to 

the king ! 
Godiva. Leofric! Father! (stretching her arms to them) 
Bertulf. (taking her hands kissing her on forehead) I 

can but weep for joy. (turning away) 
Leofric. Godiva, love, forever mine! (embracing her) 
Gurth. (who has remained ivith Jillen, awestruck and 
at back.) Father Dunstan, now's the time. Go on, 
father. 
Jillen. Yes, father ; the king said so. 
Gurth. And then you'll do the same for us, father. 
Dunstan. Peace, dolts ! 
Bertulf. What, two ill-mannered thralls, to dare to speak 

Before their lord ! 
Godiva. Father, they are not bond 

Or thrall: the king has set them free. (turning to 
Leofric.) And all 

Who serve with faithful hearts, and all who love 
In honor should be one with joy to-day. 

CURTAIN. 



1 COPY DEL. TO CAT. WV. 
MAY 2§ 1902 



